CVF in the News

Yes, Threats Against Election Officials (and Voters) Are Real. But the Law Is Fighting Back, Says California Election Expert

By Brian Watt, Alexander Gonzalez, KQED, November 4, 2022

Concerns about the rise in political violence are reverberating from the White House to state Capitols to local elections offices.

In a pre-midterm elections speech Wednesday, President Joe Biden warned about threats to democracy and referred to the recent attack against Paul Pelosi in his San Francisco home, as part of an alleged attempt to kidnap House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta also expressed caution during a Wednesday news conference in San Francisco, urging elected officials to review their safety protocols.

"So many of us are shaken by the shocking incident involving Mr. Pelosi and are reevaluating security for elected officials, given the increased threats that we're seeing," said Bonta. "The threats are going up. Violence is going up."

So just how pervasive a problem is this?

"They are purposeful and deliberate": Election experts alarmed after MAGA attacks take a darker turn

By Areeba Shah, Salon, November 2, 2022

Excerpts:

Wealthy Republican donor Robert Beadles offered two options to county commissioners when falsely accusing Nevada's Washoe County registrar of voters of counting fraudulent votes: "either fire her or lock her up."

Following the meeting, County Registrar Deanna Spikula's office was inundated with threats and harassing calls from people convinced she was part of an effort to rig the 2020 election against former President Donald Trump, according to an investigation by Reuters.

Fearing for her family's safety, Spikula submitted her resignation a few months later.

Her story highlights the nationwide efforts by Trump allies to replace county government leaders with election conspiracy theorists — one of a number of different approaches that right-wing activists have used since the 2020 presidential election to transform how U.S. elections are run.

Marin County rejected 1.7% of primary ballots, state says

By Adrian Rodriguez , Marin Independent Journal, October 28, 2022

Excerpts:

Marin County elections officials disqualified 1,405 mail ballots in the June primary election, according to data recently released by the California Secretary of State’s office.

That accounts for 1.7% of the 82,502 ballots submitted. Most of the rejected ballots — 1,212 — arrived late. By comparison, California disqualified 1.6% of its vote-by-mail ballots, or 105,818. Of those, 70,000 were late.

“If you can get your ballot in the mail early, that’s great, but using the official drop box or voter center is probably your best bet,” said Lynda Roberts, the Marin County registrar of voters. “Waiting until the last minute can create difficulty. Just don’t wait until the last minute.”

‘A madness has taken hold’ ahead of US midterms: local election officials fear for safety

By Dani Anguiano, The Guardian, October 27, 2022

Excerpts:

Inside the office of the Shasta county clerk and registrar of voters, which runs elections for about 111,000 people in this part of far northern California, Cathy Darling Allen can see all the security improvements she would make if she had the budget.

“We have plexi on the counter downstairs for Covid but that won’t stop a person. It’s literally just clamped to the counters,” the county clerk and registrar said. For about $50,000, the office could secure the front, limiting access to upstairs offices, she estimated. Another county put bulletproof glass in their lobby years earlier, she knew, something officials there at one point considered removing, though not any more.

Elections offices didn’t used to think about security in this way, Allen said. Now they can’t afford not to.

Sacramento County using Apple AirTags and more to increase election trust

By Shawnte Passmore, CBS Sacramento, October 26, 2022

Excerpts:

Vote-by-mail is underway as the November election inches closer, and it is not only issues and candidates on voters' minds.

Election integrity is center stage following the 2020s presidential election.

Out of the more than 800,000 vote-by-mail ballots Sacramento County sent to registered voters, it says about 60,000 came back so far.

Many voters told CBS13 they trust the system despite claims of an unfair presidential election in 2020.

"Well, so far, they haven't proven a damn thing," said Phillip D. Bangs of Citrus Heights.

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Though, the reality is election deniers are thrusting election integrity into the spotlight.

So, what is being done to ensure no one votes more than once?

CA Voter Foundation's Voter Guide is Now Online

By Kitty O'Neal, NewsRadio KFBK, October 17, 2022

The November 8th election is rapidly approaching and we are excited to share CVF's new California Online Voter Guide!

As California voters, we have enormous power to decide how our state is governed. But with all this power comes responsibility. And mystery. And confusion. And disinformation.

Voter advocate group discusses election process protections

By Sonseeahray Tonsall, Fox40 News Sacramento, October 17, 2022

CVF’s Kim Alexander on Capitol Public Radio’s Insight with Vicky Gonzalez, October 11, 2022:

By Staff, CapRadio, October 11, 2022

Excerpts:

The November ballot can be overwhelming. From local, state, and congressional, candidates, to propositions (not to mention city and county measures). The General Election is a lot to sort through. CapRadio's Managing Editor of News and Information Nick Miller joined Insight to break down the comprehensive Sacramento voter guide. Insight also spoke with Kim Alexander, President of the California Voter Foundation, about what voters need to know about the voting process and expanded protections for poll workers. (Full Audio)

California 2022 midterm election voter FAQ

By CapRadio Staff, CapRadio, October 10, 2022

Excerpts:

Who Can Register To Vote In California?

California residents over the age of 18 can visit the California State online voter registration page. There are options for registering to vote in Spanish, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and more. Voters can also register in person at their county elections office or pick up a paper registration from your local library, DMV office, or U.S. Post Office. Residents aged 16 and 17 can pre-register to vote; once they turn 18, they can cast a ballot.

What Do I Need To Register?

What you need to know about voter fraud in California

By Sameea Kamal, CAL Matters, October 10, 2022

Excerpts:

You’re hearing a lot more about election integrity — for a lot of reasons.

Since the 2020 election, the issue has been fueled by the “Big Lie” — the baseless claim still touted by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the election was stolen — and the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol and its aftermath.

Questioning election integrity has also become a political strategy: In the effort last year to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, Republican candidate Larry Elder said he was concerned about fraud and started a website to collect tips even before the votes were counted.

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