Local election officials are the unsung heroes of democracy — they're on the ground helping eligible voters.
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There’s less than one week until Election Day, and we need your help
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We can bet on more last-minute attempts to undermine democracy and keep eligible Americans from voting. The disinformation, weaponization of the pandemic, and vote suppressing tactics that we’ve seen all year aren’t going to stop in the coming days. But Brennan Center lawyers are on the frontlines — no matter what happens. On Election Day and thereafter, we’ll be stronger with your support.
Protect Voters Now
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The election should be free, fair, and legitimate, and we’re doing everything we can to make that happen. Give a gift to the Brennan Center today. Don’t let November 3 pass you by.
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5 Things You May Not Know About Local Election Officials
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Election officials are the unsung heroes of democracy. The partisan fights between and among federal and state officials this year have led many to believe that the role of a local election official is a political one, but for the most part, this is untrue. Local election officials work in a nonpartisan fashion to make sure that every eligible vote is counted. They’re often caught in the middle of conflicts between legislators, courts, and local budget makers, with little to no input in decisions. This year, as they’ve been tasked with conducting a safe and secure election during a pandemic, one city clerk in Michigan explained, “Being an election right now is like being pushed into a batting cage without a bat and all of the pitching machines are being aimed at you.”
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Watch this short video to meet election officials from across the country and learn more about what they do.
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When Voting by Mail Switches to Voting in Person
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What happens when a voter requests a mail ballot but then decides to vote in person because she changed her mind, or her ballot never arrived? In some states, it’s not much of an issue. But in several states, like California and Pennsylvania, voters who requested a mail ballot must bring it to the polling place to be canceled or spoiled. Otherwise, they’re provided with a provisional ballot, which can be counted after it is confirmed that the voter did not cast her mail ballot. Here’s how this is playing out across the country, and what you need to do if you’ve changed your mind about how you’ll cast your vote.
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Our Democracy Is Under Strain. Here’s Why It Will Hold Up.
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President Trump is aiming to undermine confidence in the election, but there are safeguards in place to ensure no president can steal a win or cling to power after losing. Our election system is resilient, and jurisdictions are prepared to protect against potential cyberattacks and other unforeseen technical failures. And while concerns about voter intimidation are valid, not just anyone can show up and watch the polls. Voter intimidation at the polls is illegal, whether it’s being done by federal troops, law enforcement officers, or vigilantes. There are reasons to be concerned — but there are more reasons to have faith in the system
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How Security Features Prevent Vote-by-Mail Misconduct
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For months, President Trump and his allies have been making false charges that voting by mail leads to fraud. As the Brennan Center has emphasized (and emphasized and emphasized), mail ballots are a safe and effective way to help ensure every voter can make their voice heard safely. Here’s why.
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The Roadmap to the Official Count in an Unprecedented Election
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Whether or we find out who the next president will be on election night or later on, those will not be the final and official results. The full process for counting votes involves a series of steps that take place over the course of weeks, and each of these steps has safeguards in place to protect the rights of voters and the integrity of our elections. They’re conducted in public, so citizens and the media can ensure that they are done properly. This guide breaks down the key steps that election officials will take to determine the final results.
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There Are Disturbing Parallels in Crackdowns on Protesters in the U.S. and Hong Kong
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The protests that erupted in opposition to police brutality against Black Americans this year have been met with disquieting, militarized responses across the country. Many have compared the response to that of China during last summer’s protests over Hong Kong’s independence. When the U.S. government deployed officers to “restore order” in Portland, it met protesters with the same degree of force it denounced when perpetrated by the Chinese government. We must be wary of the normalization of authoritarian suppression of dissent.
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PODCAST: Listen to Brennan Center Live’s newest episode, Anne Applebaum on the Twilight of Democracy
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What We’re Reading
Elizabeth Hira, Policy Counsel and Spitzer Fellow in Democracy, recommends “The Small, Midwestern Town Taken Over by Fake Communists”
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as textured election coverage that provides a much-needed moment to reflect. Focusing on a bizarre, hysterical 1950 incident in a Midwestern town recently visited by both the president and vice president on the campaign trail, it’s about the rhyme of history, the rise of fear politics, and how we today have power over what our future political narratives will be.
TAKE ACTION: If you’re eligible and haven’t already, VOTE! If you plan to vote in person, do so as early as you can. If you’re voting by mail and haven’t submitted your ballot yet, it may be too late to mail it. Find your closest secure drop-off location.
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We are experimenting with the format of this newsletter and are eager to know what you think of it. What would you like to see here? Email your thoughts to
[email protected]
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The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to reform, revitalize – and when necessary defend – our country’s systems of democracy and justice.
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
120 Broadway, Suite 1750
New York, NY 10271
T 646 292 8310
F 212 463 7308
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