Republican attacks on elections – Arizona

🧵ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA: In Arizona, election officials have faced death threats.

Poll workers have been harassed.

For days I have covered voter intimidation complaints.

A thread of just a portion of the comments I have received:
— Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) October 23, 2022

Trump’s legacy & Garland’s test: “Days after Maricopa County officials warned people to stop taking photos of voters and election staffers at ballot drop boxes, the Arizona Secretary of State's Office continues to refer complaints to the DoJ” https://t.co/fbOD6SOiux
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) October 22, 2022

Tucker said last night of the Arizona governor's race: "We’ve an absolute right to have it proven to us that the election was fair. If it is fair, Kari Lake’s going to win.” In other words, the proof that it's fair will be Kari Lake winning. https://t.co/pXioDlutoq
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) October 21, 2022

BREAKING: this is the voter intimidation complaint filed by an Arizona voter this week outside a drop box.

The complaint describes how a voter claims they were filmed, followed and accused of 'being a mule.' pic.twitter.com/u0bepYlmJz
— Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) October 20, 2022

The red state drive to roll back voter access rises into a whole new gear here w/GOP now trying to end mail voting in AZ. Pretty striking that @SenatorSinema made the decisive move to block new federal standards guaranteeing all voters access to mail voting. https://t.co/adKVFLL3pp
— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) March 11, 2022

Republican attacks on elections – Nevada

The GOP nominee for Nevada elections chief is now pushing a preposterous claim that Pelosi, Schiff, Schumer and Nadler, who all represent staunchly Democratic communities and won their last races by 43 points or more, were not legitimately elected: https://t.co/bF4Q9KpGYl
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 23, 2022

It's not merely election denial. It's election subversion. The Big Lie about the past is, and has always been, in the service of seizing power in the future. https://t.co/IkQsVWLfMV
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 22, 2022

Republican election fraud case in New York State

A Republican elections board commissioner in New York was arrested yesterday on charges of carrying out a brazen ballot scheme that allowed him to cast votes in voters’ names.https://t.co/XlTyMEhr9i
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 14, 2022

Rensselaer County's Republican elections commissioner arrested by @AlbanyFBI as part of ongoing ballot fraud investigation https://t.co/CmM5v3JMKj via @TimesUnion
— Brendan Lyons (@Brendan_LyonsTU) September 13, 2022

Republicans who won’t accept primary losses are a preview of the future

Trump will never accept his 2020 loss. This has inspired other Republicans in primaries and will carry over to general elections. They are also refusing to count votes, another tactic they could use to sabotage fair elections.

So if the contest for control of the House is close, and if several individual seats are close, and if we won't know results for some of those (e.g. in CA) for days–don't we need to be preparing for widespread GOP election denial and fraud claims and refusal to accept results?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) September 15, 2022

Mark Finchem, a full-throated MAGA warrior, is a leading contender to be Arizona’s next secretary of state. He has said that he won’t concede if he loses. https://t.co/T7XeXsKLqP
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 1, 2022

This is how Republicans are planning to steal elections in the future. By refusing to count lawful votes and then certifying incomplete and inaccurate results, Republicans hope to create a veneer of legitimacy around an illegitimate outcome. https://t.co/GTFM01tWXy
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) July 31, 2022

Many Republican running for positions of control over elections are quite literally campaigning on a vow to break their oaths of office, by treating future losses as non-binding.

This insurrectionist drift has become something akin to a social movement:https://t.co/WkFX6OAmmH pic.twitter.com/5Qcs3tqPgz
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) July 1, 2022

Right-wing extremist Wisconsin Supreme Court

How can we expect fair elections when they won’t accept the results of one?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court decision prohibiting ballot drop boxes includes outrageously irresponsible language questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and drawing comparisons to elections in North Korea and Syria. https://t.co/nwqJTpfBmr pic.twitter.com/yWpzHI2C9z
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) July 8, 2022

The Wisconsin law in question: "The envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots."

There's legitimate room for disagreement about the legality of dropboxes. But not about the legitimacy of past elections.
— Nathaniel Rakich (@baseballot) July 8, 2022

In 4-3 decision, Wisconsin Supreme Court bans the use of ballot drop boxes. https://t.co/Y9zVM3v1NV
— Patrick Marley (@patrickdmarley) July 8, 2022

Republicans continue with their plan to win elections by making it harder to vote https://t.co/VbqYhfXKYG
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 8, 2022

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an opinion declaring that "everyone" should "question the legitimacy" of the 2020 election results because illegal votes "polluted" Biden's victory.

The courts are not going to save us. The courts are the problem. https://t.co/5ey67Yt5xQ @Slate pic.twitter.com/2zHXiuCMg2
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) July 8, 2022

More on the terrible Independent State Legislature theory

.@BeschlossDC on SCOTUS deciding to take up the case on state authority over elections: “There’s a possibility that we may have seen our last fair and free presidential election.” pic.twitter.com/1ukn0q5JK0
— Lauren Peikoff (@laurenpeikoff) July 2, 2022

Yes. The independent state legislature theory doesn’t really have much to do with this. Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t blow a huge hole in checks and balances, though! https://t.co/R8AzpiiKZs
— Nathaniel Rakich (@baseballot) July 2, 2022

The justices will consider “independent legislature theory,” which some legal theorists describe as a literal reading of the Constitution.

Voting rights advocates fear it could let state lawmakers twist election laws to favor one party. https://t.co/nZ9JsEOGiF
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 2, 2022

With SCOTUS taking up the independent state legislature doctrine, this raises the obvious question:
What do you do when the Supreme Court gives up on political equality?
You change the rules to stop relying on the courts.
w/ @aziz_huq in @DemJournal https://t.co/9jn2UE6gBA pic.twitter.com/5TwwzjG1Kt
— Lee Drutman ⚙️🏛 (@leedrutman) July 1, 2022

Keep an eye on Moore v. Harper–a coming Supreme Court case that could have huge implications for elections and our democracy: https://t.co/AGo5C4HxOt
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) July 1, 2022

A MUST READ: Step #17 of the thread is legally wrong, but that gives me no assurance that the radical antidemocratic wing of the #TrumpPacked SCOTUS won’t buy it hook, line, and sinker. And then we’d be totally fucxxd. Only mass public mobilization NOW can stave off this disaster https://t.co/m85q6praRo
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) July 2, 2022

One lesson from the Democratic failure to respond to the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade

It’s pathetic that the Democratic Party didn’t have a response ready when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. There were months, even years to prepare for this.

We should learn from this error and be better prepared for the next Supreme Court sessions. It is possible (I would say probable) that the Supreme Court will endorse the extremist Independent State Legislatures theory. Republican legislatures can bypass the will of voters and the impact of their state courts and make electoral decisions that benefit their candidates.

What can be done to prevent this decision? We need much more publicity now on how bad it would be.

What can be done to blunt the impact if the Court does support the theory?

We should start thinking about this now, not wait until the Court acts. Obviously, there is no action to extreme for the current group of justices so we must prepare for the worst.

Next Supreme Court term could support the terrible independent state legislature theory

The radical independent state legislature theory gives extreme control of elections to states. The Supreme Court (R) has agreed to hear a case about it in the next term. They could make yet another terrible decision.

Just in: In an election case out of North Carolina, SCOTUS agrees to review the "independent state legislature" theory next term. Under that theory, state legislatures have broad power to set rules for federal elections, even if state courts say those rules are unconstitutional.
— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) June 30, 2022

Breaking and Analysis: Supreme Court Will Hear Moore v. Harper, the Independent State Legislature Theory Case from North Carolina; This Case Could Severely Curtail the Ability of State Courts to Protect Voting Rights and Stop Partisan Gerrymandering https://t.co/9sIC6NAbNB
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) June 30, 2022

A major, major election case to be heard by SCOTUS next term.

This concerns the "independent state legislature theory" which argues state legislatures have the authority over federal elections without checks from state constitutions or state courts.https://t.co/m6YUKgJ5iE
— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) June 30, 2022

🚨BREAKING: Supreme Court grants cert to review North Carolina redistricting case. This will be a CRITICAL case for democracy next term as the Court will consider the GOP's radical "Independent State Legislature" theory.https://t.co/xJgagh0pVW pic.twitter.com/eqCvacD8Np
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) June 30, 2022

BREAKING: The Supreme Court takes up a case about the independent state legislature doctrine for next term, which could give state legislatures far greater power over all manner of election laws. https://t.co/R2jTEKWoeT
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) June 30, 2022

This is EXACTLY WHY the SC is taking this case. WI, PA, GA, NC: Swing states where GOP has gerrymandered guaranteed control of the state leg.

If the situation were reversed and Dems had semi-permanent control of those legislatures, would the court be doing this? Of course not. https://t.co/6FNC9GI33Y
— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) July 1, 2022

🚨SCOTUS will hear 2 critical voting/election cases in Fall.

Merrill v Milligan–GOP wants to undermine Sec 2 of VRA.

Moore v Harper–GOP wants to strip state courts of power to limit legislatures in election cases.

Democracy is literally on the docket.https://t.co/8iFP5fL7em
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) July 1, 2022

Right-wing threats against election officials

Election officials and workers have felt threatened since the 2020 presidential election and the false claims that it was stolen from former President Donald Trump. https://t.co/ANxaGmARpE
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) July 8, 2022

Election officials worry about their safety ahead of the midterms https://t.co/M92zwlcijD
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 17, 2022

A Nebraska man pleaded guilty on charges that he threatened an election official over social media last year, marking the first conviction for a Justice Dept. task force charged with protecting poll workers. https://t.co/xwJKfHaxB8
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) June 16, 2022

Pretty interesting detail here:

Michigan officials won't currently say how many voting machines have been taken out of service because of unauthorized access.

The primary is less than 50 days away. https://t.co/PweGlk5zdm
— Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) June 15, 2022

Sadly, this is not an isolated problem, since 2020, the @BrennanCenter has documented an unprecedented spike in threats against election officials and their families. More than 1 in 6 experienced threats. And it is continuing! https://t.co/tx5XVNJTMX
— Wendy Weiser (@WendyRWeiser) June 13, 2022

New column: Dozens of 2020 election deniers are running for state offices that control elections, and the GOP that tried to block Biden's win could take over Congress. Will the Jan. 6 hearings jolt voters? And what if they don't?https://t.co/JuXX3SwUOZ @usatoday @usatodayopinion
— Jill Lawrence (@JillDLawrence) June 7, 2022

"It's an entire architecture."@HeidiReports got tapes this week detailing GOP plans to challenge future elections. It is organized, and coordinated to make "MAGA loyalists to become the worker bees of the election system." #Velshi https://t.co/T2ldV3WjMj
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) June 4, 2022

Two Arizona elections officials have resigned over threats that began after the 2020 election. https://t.co/oF4oEhzSLG
— Axios (@axios) July 3, 2022

Republican plans to subvert future elections

FLAG. Video recordings of Republican Party operatives meeting with activists reveal a multi-pronged strategy to target and overturn votes in Democratic precincts: Install trained recruits as poll workers and put them in direct contact with party attorneys. https://t.co/aQ1cH0orZ4
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 1, 2022

New reporting from Politico details efforts by the Republican party on the local level to challenge and potentially overturn elections in the future.
@WmBrangham spoke with @rickhasen to better understand this strategy and what it means. https://t.co/x2wbLMyl6O pic.twitter.com/cAwDOuBotV
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) June 1, 2022

Amazingly detailed NYT piece on yet another disturbingly organized move by conservative activists to make sure the next election results only in a GOP victory. What are Democrats doing to respond? We are heading for a democratic disaster. https://t.co/9EstceUdlg
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 30, 2022

The news that Cleta Mitchell (of Trump-trying-to-steal-the-election fame) is putting together a program of GOP-friendly election monitors made me think of a guy in Scranton who volunteered to do that for the 2020 election. https://t.co/SkWiIKqpoq
— Philip Bump (@pbump) May 31, 2022

True the Vote, the group behind the debunked election conspiracy film “2000 Mules,” is even controversial in GOP circles.

“I would not give her a penny,” John Fund told donors at a Council for National Policy event.

"It's true," Cleta Mitchell agreed. https://t.co/pLXVZxyYZd
— Brendan Fischer (@brendan_fischer) June 1, 2022

Architect of Trump election theft attempt is recruiting an army of conspiracy-fueled poll workers: reporthttps://t.co/UXuQrsGuT4
— Raw Story (@RawStory) May 30, 2022

The GOP is reportedly preparing to sow chaos in the 2022 election by creating an “army” of poll workers and Republican lawyers to challenge voters in Democratic precincts. https://t.co/TNj3ptV8Wm
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) June 1, 2022

Listen to the tape. It's worse than you think. They are talking about using relationships with local police, lawyers, and judges to undermine ballot counting and elections in key Democratic cities. This is the road map of a coup. https://t.co/cMY1Bejfbj
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) June 2, 2022

FWIW there’s a gigantic voter protection infrastructure in Democratic politics (as well as voter & civic groups) that mobilizes the largely left leaning legal community all over the country every year https://t.co/wNkZuJfbUO
— Jonathan Robinson (@jon_m_rob) June 2, 2022

“Eastman advised that a state legislature should concoct a fig leaf justification for declaring the correct Biden electors certified by the governor invalid and certifying Trump electors instead.” This is key to their plans for 2024:https://t.co/T6FDtJQcpk
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) May 11, 2022

At least 357 sitting GOP state legislators in battleground states have tried to discredit or overturn the 2020 election. That’s 44% of GOP state legislators in 9 states where the presidential race was closest.https://t.co/xs82k09Igr
— Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (@DLCC) May 29, 2022

Opinion | South Dakota's attack on ballot initiatives shows how the GOP subverts voters' will – The Washington Post https://t.co/gIgrmV79PS
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) June 3, 2022