Safeguarding the 2024 Election: Six Key Takeaways from Democracy Working Group

The NewDEAL Forum’s Democracy Working Group met in mid-September to discuss key efforts to safeguard the 2024 election. Election officials and voter advocacy leaders laid out what they are doing to ensure election security and protect democratic processes. The participants emphasized the need to combat misinformation, strengthen voter protections, and maintain public trust in election outcomes.

The following officials and advocates participated in the discussion:

• Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and co-chair of the NewDEAL Forum’s Democracy Working Group;
• Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State;
• Tobias Read, Oregon Treasurer and candidate for Secretary of State;
• Jake Kenswil, DNC Director of Voter Protection; and
• Hannah Fried, Executive Director of All Voting is Local.

Throughout the discussion, six key takeaways emerged:

1.Long-Term Election Security Planning is Crucial: Election security and integrity efforts have been ongoing since the 2020 election. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson underscored the multi-year preparation, highlighting how the post-January 6th environment prompted heightened planning to address growing challenges, including misinformation, disinformation, and potential post-election disputes. (Learn more about efforts to protect democracy in the Democracy Working Group’s Democracy Playbook.)

Election Day is the culmination of years-long efforts to build secure election infrastructure, engage in public education, and counter misinformation. For example, Michigan implemented a new 9-day early voting period, which has required significant preparatory work, both in terms of educating voters and ensuring systems are secure.

2. Coordinated Response to Misinformation is a Top Priority: Statewide officials emphasized the potential negative impact of misinformation, especially with the widespread use of new generative AI tools. False narratives and election conspiracies are not new, but have been significantly accelerated since 2020 through both social media and the use of generative AI. Election administrators, including Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Secretary of State for New Mexico, are adopting proactive strategies to debunk false claims, including dedicated “rumor vs. reality” pages on official websites and engaging directly with media outlets and trusted community validators.

Officials emphasized the importance of rapid response when false narratives take root, as well as ensuring that voters receive accurate information from election authorities and other trusted sources. (Learn more about the impact of AI on democracy here.)

3. High Voter Confidence Requires Transparency: Tobias Read, Oregon Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Secretary of State, pointed out that a combination of strong communication with voters and robust, transparent processes builds trust. Oregon’s voter notification system, which informs voters at every stage of the voting process — from when a ballot is sent to when it’s accepted — serves as a key model for building transparency and accountability. Many other states have embraced similar tracking systems for voters.

Transparency can, and should, be used as a defense against election-related conspiracies. Speakers stressed the importance of trust-building through visibility and proactive communication, whether it’s showcasing election machines’ functionality prior to the election or demystifying the vote-counting process. Inviting the media — and even skeptical voices — to witness these precautions can pay huge dividends when it comes to dispelling rumors and stopping misinformation before it starts.

4. Voter Education is Central to Election Integrity: Jake Kenswil, Director of Protection for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), underscored the importance of voter education in maintaining election integrity. Tools like www.iwillvote.com and a voter hotline (1–833–648–6837) are essential in addressing common voting issues and ensuring that voters are well-informed about polling locations, registration, and other logistical concerns. Kenswil emphasized that when voters are well-educated about the process, most issues are preventable or resolvable without escalation.

To extend this reach, Kenswil highlighted a new aspect of voter outreach and voter protection from the DNC: a text line. A new texting option means voters — and particularly younger voters — have an additional avenue to receive reliable, trustworthy information. Anyone with questions about voter registration, where to vote, or when voting starts can text VOTE to 70888 to get assistance.

5. Voter Suppression and Voter Eligibility Threats Continue: Hannah Fried of All Voting is Local raised concerns about escalating attacks on voter eligibility, particularly targeting immigrants and minority communities. She pointed to legal battles in Arizona and Georgia as examples of efforts to suppress voter turnout. Attacks on voter eligibility, often based on misinformation, disproportionately affect marginalized voters and erode trust in the democratic process. Local leaders have powerful, trusted voices that can — and should — be used to counter these suppression efforts.

6. Managing Post-Election Challenges: While voting ends on election day, statewide officials are already anticipating and planning for lawsuits and public challenges following the election. Both Sec. Benson and Sec. Toulouse Oliver stressed the importance of effective communication efforts to prepare both the public and media so that post-election issues are covered and reported accurately. In addition, states are focused on the security and safety of vote-counting facilities, to ensure a smooth process where every vote counts and is counted.

As attacks on election certification become more prominent, Fried warned of the risks of disinformation in undermining public confidence in certified results. Fried emphasized that local election officials play a critical role in relaying accurate information during the certification process, and can help combat and diminish the impact of misinformation.

Throughout the discussion, it was clear that statewide officials are prepared for the 2024 election. Election officials and advocates learned lessons from the violence and widespread misinformation following the 2020 election, and have been working diligently for the past four years to ensure a safe, secure, and free election. In the final weeks leading up to the election, local leaders can make sure the effort of the past four years pays. Leaders can help push back against misinformation, whether created by generative AI or dishonest actors. And further, leaders can communicate with voters about measures taken to ensure safe, secure elections. Such actions will give voters across the nation the confidence to go to the polls and make their voices heard.