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We strongly encourage you to vote if you are able, and to check the status of your returned ballot online.
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Friend,
Last week, we continued our Democracy Is ... programming with a timely warning about anticipating threats of violence on and around Election Day. We have already seen reports of arson attacks on ballot drop boxes1 and far-right individuals accosting poll workers at early-voting locations. With just two days to go until polls close — and the possibility of days of uncertainty as votes are counted — the nation remains on high alert.
Participating in our democratic process is one of our most sacred and fundamental rights. It’s utterly chilling and inexcusable that extremist forces would conspire to intimidate our communities from voting and threaten the peaceful transition of power … and yet that is a reality we’re preparing for as we approach this fateful Tuesday.
As you return your ballot (if you haven’t already) and take part in conversations around the results, we urge you to stay vigilant against physical and digital threats in your community. It’s also important to remember that disinformation will be more prevalent than ever during this period of uncertainty since social-media platforms have failed to install safeguards and traditional news media are prone to sensationalizing stories to keep people from turning off the TV.
If you’re unsure about how to prepare for threats of violence and widespread disinformation, you can catch up on what you missed at last week’s webinar.
We must take these threats seriously, but we also cannot be intimidated or discouraged from participating in our democracy. During our webinar, David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research offered context for Election Day coverage: “It is the day when demand for news is at its peak and supply of news is zero … So what are cable-news vans doing? They drive around town looking for the one polling place that has problems when most of them are doing pretty well. Understandable. But then we're all on edge.”
The potency of conspiracy theories increases dramatically when more and more people are feeling anxious, and that continues as we await the results. Malicious actors will use this process to feed into claims of stolen victories, but Becker clarified that the reality is far more mundane. "We're actually counting [ballots] as fast as ever. It's that the margins are much narrower. And when the margins are narrower, it takes longer to know who won."
In the meantime, here are some resources to help you prepare for the weeks ahead, including the recording of our conversation:
At the end of our webinar, I offered these closing words: "What I have heard overwhelmingly from all three of [our panelists] is that despite the fear mongering, the intimidation attempts and the structural attempts to undermine or remove the buttresses of our legal system, democracy remains durable. That does not mean that we are immune from attack. It means that when attacked, the systems have integrity."
We’ll be in touch as the week’s events unfold.
Thank you for your support—
Nora and the rest of us at Free Press
P.S. This is the moment we’ve been preparing for — and now is the best time for you to make a gift that keeps our democracy-defense work going.
1. “King County Doubles Drop Box Collections After Arson Attacks, Ensures Voter Safety,” KOMO News, Oct. 30, 2024
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