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Guest Column –
The Brennan Center for Justice –
Although we won’t know all of the results for a while, yesterday’s midterms had a resounding takeaway for our democracy: Americans reject election denial. Many election deniers in competitive races were defeated. And these races were happening in states with a diverse array of political leanings. What does all of this tell us? American voters want our elections to be fair, safe, and independent: an extraordinary repudiation of election deniers.
Think about it: in the six key swing states that determined the 2020 election, conspiracy theorists ran for office to seize the electoral machinery for 2024. In Michigan and Georgia (in the primary), extremist candidates for secretary of state lost. In Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where governors have power over election administration, election deniers fell short. So far, the conspiracy theorists are 0-4. In Arizona and Nevada, while the results are not final, election deniers running for secretary of state may lose. In fact, some of the most prominent election deniers did worse than other Republican candidates running on the same ticket. Voters paid attention.
In spite of the rhetoric and threats, these midterms were the smoothest elections our experts have ever seen – and they have been studying election administration for decades. Officials were prepared. They had back-up measures in place and swiftly responded when equipment malfunctioned, so voters could continue casting ballots. Dozens of Brennan Center experts worked intensely all day in three war rooms in our offices monitoring elections across the country and working with local and state voting rights groups.
Despite these victories for democracy, legitimate reasons for concern still remain. The voting restrictions passed largely on the basis of election denialism were in full effect, and while we all should be pleased with the high overall turnout so far, those numbers can mask the impact that voter suppression has, particularly on people of color. For example, in Georgia earlier this year, turnout was up, but the gap between Black and white voting rates widened notably. The Voting Rights Act has been gutted, with more challenges to come.
Pre-election voter intimidation tactics this cycle remain a concern. And seats won via outrageously gerrymandered maps in North Carolina, Florida, and elsewhere could be a decisive factor in the potentially razor thin margin for control of the House and in state legislatures. Much reform is still needed.
As we wait for the full picture of the midterms to emerge, we know that the American electorate demands an inclusive democracy founded on free, fair, and secure elections. That’s why the Brennan Center will continue to work in Congress and in the states to expand voting rights, improve our election systems, and fight for our multiracial democracy.
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About the Brennan Center for Justice. It is an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization that works to reform, revitalize, and when necessary, defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice. Today, we are in a great fight for the future of constitutional democracy in the United States. We are committed to the rule of law. We work to craft and advance a transformative reform agenda — solutions that aim to make American democracy work for all.
Roadmap to the Official Count in the 2022 Elections
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