05A-08 U.S. Elections More News

Election Deniers Want AI Cameras to Stream Footage of Ballot Dropboxes

Election Deniers Want AI Cameras to Stream Footage of Ballot Dropboxes

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Election Deniers Want AI Cameras to Stream Footage of Ballot Dropboxes – wired.com
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Engelbrecht has also said the group is looking to roll out dropbox monitoring in multiple states, and mentioned Michigan as a possible location, though most of her focus appears to be on Wisconsin.

In her interview with Wallnau, Engelbrecht added that she was working with “three influential sheriffs” in Wisconsin, though didn’t name them.

WIRED contacted two dozen sheriffs from Wisconsin’s largest counties, but did not find a single one who was going to be part of the monitoring effort. Engelbrecht and Truth the Vote did not respond to multiple requests for comment from WIRED to name the sheriffs who have agreed to be part of the program.

“True the Vote has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office regarding ideas as they relate to election integrity and possible law violations,” Deputy Inspector Patrick R. Esser, from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, tells WIRED. “True the Vote proposed the idea of donating cameras to the sheriff’s office to monitor election sites, however, the obstacles associated with that idea made it impractical.”

While most sheriff offices WIRED contacted did not respond to requests for comment, a number, including offices in Buffalo County and Polk County, said they had not even heard about the dropbox initiative. “I was unaware of the plan and will not be participating,” Sheriff Mike Osmond from Buffalo County tells WIRED. “I am not sure if they are legal or not but do not have interest in implementing such a program.”

Fears mount that election deniers could disrupt vote count in US swing states | US elections 2024

Fears mount that election deniers could disrupt vote count in US swing states | US elections 2024

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Fears mount that election deniers could disrupt vote count in US swing states – The Guardian
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Excerpt:

Fears are rising that the vote count in November’s presidential election could be disrupted as a result of the proliferation of Donald Trump’s lies about stolen elections and rampant voter fraud in the key swing states where the race for the White House will be decided.

A new survey of eight vital swing states reveals that at least 239 election deniers who have signed up to Trump’s “election integrity” conspiracy theories – including the false claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him – are actively engaged in electoral battles this year. The deniers are standing for congressional or state seats, holding Republican leadership positions, and overseeing elections on state and county election boards.

The report by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), a watchdog group focusing on special interests distorting US democracy, reveals the extent of denial in the eight critical states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It shows that corrosive efforts to damage public confidence in elections have proliferated there despite the drubbing the election denial movement received in the 2022 midterms….

“What was striking to us about our research is how much election denialism and the voter fraud lie have infiltrated and taken over the Republican apparatus in each of these critical states,” said CMD’s executive director Arn Pearson.

DeKalb GOP sues Georgia Secretary of State, claiming poor election security– atlantaciviccircle.org

DeKalb GOP sues Georgia Secretary of State, claiming poor election security– atlantaciviccircle.org

pgnewser September 13, 2024

DeKalb GOP sues Georgia Secretary of State, claiming poor election security – Atlantic City Circle
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Excerpt:

The DeKalb County Republican Party has filed a lawsuit against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger alleging that the encryption keys for the software used in the state’s Dominion Voting System are not stored securely.

The DeKalb GOP wants the Secretary of State’s Office to properly store the encryption keys and “immediately bring the Dominion systems used in Georgia elections into compliance with Georgia law.” The lawsuit alleges that the state’s Dominion system software has been in an “illegal and insecure state since at least 2020,” and that the Secretary of State’s Office has known this since March, 2024.

The DeKalb GOP also wants the Secretary of State’s office to make the Dominion system logs, cast-vote records and ballot images available to itself and the public for inspection within 24 hours of polls closing on Nov. 5.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 30 in Fulton County Superior Court, was announced by the DeKalb Republican Party on X on Monday. A hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 30.

Cornel West disqualified from Georgia’s ballot, judge rules

Cornel West disqualified from Georgia’s ballot, judge rules

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Cornel West disqualified from Georgia’s ballot, judge rules – 11 Alive
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Excerpt:

The decision means votes for West won’t be counted in Georgia, although his name will remain on ballots because the judge said it’s too late to remove it.

ATLANTA — A Georgia state court judge on Wednesday disqualified independent presidential candidate Cornel West from running for president in the state, ruling that West’s electors didn’t file the proper paperwork.

For now at least, the decision means votes for West won’t be counted in Georgia, although his name will remain on ballots because the judge said it’s too late to remove it.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Cox ruled it was too late to order new ballots printed, with military and overseas ballots scheduled to be mailed starting Tuesday. Instead, Cox ordered the state to post notices in polling places warning West had been disqualified and votes for him would be void, a common remedy in Georgia for late election changes.

U.S. House speaker withdraws spending bill that would require ID to register to vote • Virginia Mercury

U.S. House speaker withdraws spending bill that would require ID to register to vote • Virginia Mercury

pgnewser September 13, 2024

U.S. House speaker withdraws spending bill that would require ID to register to vote • Virginia Mercury
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Excerpt:

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson pulled a six-month stopgap spending bill from heading to the floor for a vote Wednesday, scuttling efforts by the GOP to show solidarity behind their plan, which included a provision requiring ID to register to vote in federal elections.

The spending bill, released by House Republicans last week in the heat of a presidential campaign in which immigration is a central focus, had no chance of becoming law amid opposition from Democrats, a cool response from many GOP senators and a veto threat from the Biden administration.

A number of House GOP lawmakers had also come out against the legislation.

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters that lawmakers plan to work through the weekend to find a path forward on the stopgap spending bill and language that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.

New rules for ballot drop boxes in Ohio puts restrictions on who can use them – BG Independent News

New rules for ballot drop boxes in Ohio puts restrictions on who can use them – BG Independent News

pgnewser September 13, 2024

New rules for ballot drop boxes in Ohio puts restrictions on who can use them – BG Independent News
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Excerpt:

The latest attempt to prevent voter fraud in Ohio will make it more difficult for voters to use ballot drop boxes and make more work for election workers across the state.

On Wednesday morning, the Wood County Board of Elections discussed the impact of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s recent directive that only those people dropping off their own ballots may use the drop box.

That means people dropping off ballots for family members must come into the board of elections during business hours and fill out paperwork attesting to their relationship to the voter. They cannot use the drop off box.

Nearly four million Ohioans voted last November, with approximately 25% voting absentee, according to state data.

So the state directive could mean a lot more work for election workers across the state.

Republicans challenge North Carolina decision that lets students show university’s mobile ID

Republicans challenge North Carolina decision that lets students show university’s mobile ID

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Republicans challenge North Carolina decision that lets students show university’s mobile ID – ABC News
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RALEIGH, N.C. — The Republican Party sued North Carolina’s elections board on Thursday to block students and employees at the state’s flagship public university from offering a digital identification as a way to comply with a relatively new photo voter ID law.

The Republican National Committee and North Carolina filed the lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court three weeks after the Democratic majority on the State Board of Elections approved the “Mobile UNC One Card” generated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a qualifying ID.

The law says qualifying IDs must meet several photo and security requirements to be approved by the board. The UNC-Chapel Hill digital ID, which is voluntary for students and staff and available on Apple phones, marks the qualification of the first such ID posted from someone’s smartphone.

Republicans push for clean stopgap as leaders regroup on shutdown plan – The Hill

Republicans push for clean stopgap as leaders regroup on shutdown plan – The Hill

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Republicans push for clean stopgap as leaders regroup on shutdown plan – The Hill
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Excerpt:

A growing number of House Republicans say they know how the current government funding drama ends: with a clean continuing resolution (CR) that kicks the shutdown deadline to after Election Day.

The question is how Congress arrives at that conclusion.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) scrapped plans for the House to vote on his conservative funding bill Wednesday when it became clear it didn’t have the GOP votes to pass, catapulting the conference back to square one with less than a month until the shutdown deadline.

Some Republicans are pushing Johnson to make another attempt at clearing a conservative funding bill, arguing that a successful effort could help strengthen the party’s hand in forthcoming bipartisan negotiations.

Muddying the waters, former President Trump is urging Republicans to vote against any short-term funding bill that does not secure “absolute assurances on Election Security.”

Judge rules voting machine company’s defamation suit against Newsmax can go to trial– thehill.com

Judge rules voting machine company’s defamation suit against Newsmax can go to trial– thehill.com

pgnewser September 13, 2024

Judge rules voting machine company’s defamation suit against Newsmax can go to trial– thehill.com
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Excerpt:

A voting machine company’s defamation lawsuit against Newsmax appears to be headed toward trial following a judge in Delaware’s ruling on Thursday.

The Florida-based company, Smartmatic, accused Newsmax and other conservative media outlets of airing defamatory statements that implied the company rigged the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Newsmax argued it was reporting on newsworthy allegations made by former President Trump and his allies, though the company previously issued a clarification saying, “it has not reported true certain claims made about these companies.”

Both Newsmax and Smartmatic asked Superior Court Judge Eric Davis to rule in their favor without the case going to trial. Davis granted partial summary judgment but said a jury will decide key issues. The trial is scheduled to start Sept. 30, The Associated Press reported.

FBI And CISA Addresses Claims Of Hacked Voter Information

FBI And CISA Addresses Claims Of Hacked Voter Information

pgnewser September 13, 2024

FBI And CISA Addresses Claims Of Hacked Voter Information – The Cyber Express
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Excerpt:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have highlighted a growing concern about the spread of false claims related to voting. The announcement, titled “Just So You Know: False Claims of Hacked Voter Information Likely Intended to Sow Distrust of U.S. Elections,” aims to educate the public on how disinformation tactics are being used to manipulate perceptions and undermine trust in the U.S. electoral process.

The announcement comes amid increasing concerns over cybersecurity and the integrity of elections, particularly with the 2024 election cycle approaching. Both the FBI and CISA have observed a troubling trend where foreign actors and cybercriminals propagate misleading information about alleged breaches in U.S. voter registration databases. These claims often exaggerate or fabricate details about voter information hacking to discredit the electoral system and erode public trust.