Election officials warn U.S. elections are compromised by misinformation and threats, risking public confidence and safety of workers.
Election officials from two U.S. states raised alarms to a congressional panel on Wednesday, warning that trust in the electoral process has been compromised by partisan campaigns aimed at undermining the system, resulting in continuous threats directed at those involved in managing elections.
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"This is a destructive cycle that needs to be addressed for the well-being of our nation," New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, expressed in her written statement to the House of Representatives Administration Committee, the body responsible for overseeing federal elections.
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Toulouse Oliver, along with five other state election officials, was scheduled to participate in the Wednesday hearing before the committee regarding public confidence in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. She cautioned that American elections have been clouded by "conspiracies, misinformation, and outright lies," which have led to threats of violence and an overwhelming number of unwarranted public information requests.
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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, also a Democrat, shared similar concerns with the lawmakers, stating in her written testimony that the perpetuation of falsehoods has fueled threats and created "a constant sense of unease" among election officials.
"Individuals have appeared at my home or have threatened me, my team, and numerous clerks and local election officials throughout our state," Benson explained. "A secure democracy is unattainable unless we safeguard the well-being of the individuals responsible for running our elections."
Neither Toulouse Oliver nor Benson directly pointed fingers at those they believed were attempting to delegitimize U.S. elections.
In recent weeks, former Republican President Donald Trump has reignited his baseless claims that the 2020 election was rigged against him, and he continues to allege, without evidence, that this year's election could be compromised by illegal votes cast by individuals who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully.
Simultaneously, Republican lawmakers in Congress are attempting to push through legislation advocated by Trump, requiring proof of citizenship from individuals registering to vote in federal elections. This legislative effort is being met with resistance from Democrats.
Toulouse Oliver pointed to accusations of non-citizen voting as an example of misinformation that undermines voter confidence.
"Non-citizen voting is not a widespread issue in New Mexico, nor is it on a national scale," she emphasized.
Voting by non-citizens is illegal and classified as a felony offense, and independent studies have consistently shown that such cases are extremely rare.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, addressed the committee, noting that voters in his state are concerned about non-citizen voting, particularly given the record influx of migrants under President Joe Biden's administration.
"Some non-citizens are indeed registered to vote in this country," LaRose claimed. His office recently announced the identification of nearly 600 non-citizens registered to vote.
Ohio's total voter registration hovers around 8 million, according to state data.
West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, also a Republican, took aim at President Biden for signing a 2023 executive order instructing federal agencies to assist citizens with voter registration. The directive has been the subject of recent Republican lawsuits, alleging that it could pave the way for non-citizens to cast ballots.
Warner asserted that the executive order would lead to "illegal votes being cast."