The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 13, 2023
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
National Task Force on Election Crises – Full Report & Recommendations – Lessons from the 2022 General Election: How to Prevent Election Crises, and Emerging Issues for 2023, 2024, and Beyond
National Task Force on Election Crises – Website, Recommendations & Resources
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
A coalition of over 50 democracy groups, academics, former government officials, and technical experts released recommendations for 2023 and 2024 election preparation in a February 9th report.
In a succinct, powerful and excellent report, The National Task Force on Election Crises lays out the damage to democracy sustained during the 2020 election and its aftermath, an analysis of the 2022 midterm election, and dozens of recommendations for shoring up our American democracy’s foundation.
Recommendations include sustaining proven election options such as early and mail-in voting; proper funding of election personnel, security and equipment; protection of voters and election officials from violence and intimidation; continued hardening from cyber attacks; and better coordination between community leaders and law enforcement throughout campaigns to ensure the right to vote for all voters.
To build election confidence, the report recommends diverse, well-trained poll workers; speeding up results when possible – including early pre-processing of mail ballots; making sure mail-in ballot deadlines are consistent with the Postal Service’s ability to deliver; and using paper ballots so voters can review them prior to tabulation.
The report also asks for social media platforms and candidates to be held accountable for spreading election disinformation, and for campaign attorneys pushing frivolous lawsuits. There are many other recommendations we weren’t able to cover, so we’ve posted the full report and a link to the Task Force’s website at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.