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Hoax bomb threats targeting polling places and election offices briefly disrupted voting in five battleground states, with the FBI saying the threats in four of those states came from Russian email domains. “The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains,” the FBI said in a statement Tuesday night. German officials accused Russia of orchestrating bomb threats against several polling places in Moldova’s presidential elections last week. Threats to polling sites and election offices were reported across about a dozen Pennsylvania counties, where targeted polling sites were ordered to stay open late, officials said. “But I think the number of these bomb threats is, if not surprising, very concerning,” he added.

Persons: ”, Bret Schafer, “ It’s, Schafer, Wade Yates, Brad Raffensperger, “, Adrian Fontes, Fontes, Lawrence Norden Organizations: FBI, Russian Embassy, Novosti, Alliance, Democracy, German Marshall Fund, Fulton County, Fulton County Police, Court, Etris, Center, Union City, NBC News, Arizona, ” Police, Philadelphia, Brennan Center for Justice, New York University Law School Locations: Russian, Georgia , Pennsylvania, Arizona , Wisconsin, Michigan, U.S, Russia, Moldova’s, Moscow, Moldova, Georgia, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Union, Country, Madison , Wisconsin

Bomb threats were reported across five key battleground states, both to polling places and government offices where votes are counted. The FBI, which engaged with local and state officials, confirmed that some of the threats originated from Russian email domains. “There were no major issues across the state” in the election process, said Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar. Voters who need to cure ballots with signature issues have until November 12 to do so, according to state election rules. Election workers process ballots for the 2024 General Election, in Milwaukee on November 5, 2024.

Persons: Donald Trump, Georgia –, –, Jocelyn Benson, Benson, ”, Gabriel Sterling, Brad Raffensperger, Lorena Portillo, State Francisco Aguilar, Aguilar, Omar Sabir, Kamala Harris, ” Sabir, Al Schmidt, Scott Hunt, Sara Innamorato, “, ” Innamorato, Paulina Gutierrez, “ We’re, Gutierrez, Jeff Fleming, Morry Gash, AP Sen, Ron Johnson, Brian Schimming, Johnson, Alysa Horton, they’ll, ” Horton, Horton, Adrian Fontes, Sean Lyngaas, Dalia Faheid, Brian Todd, Zachary Cohen, Casey Tolan, Holmes Lybrand, Scott Glover, Pamela Brown, Jim Acosta, Laura Dolan Organizations: CNN, Electoral, White, FBI, Democratic, Michigan Michigan, Georgia CNN, Trump, Georgia, State, Pennsylvania CNN, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Allegheny, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, AP, Wisconsin GOP, Arizona State, ASU, university’s State Press Locations: Russia, Fulton County, Georgia, Michigan, Wolverine, Detroit, “, Lansing, Atlanta, Chatham County, Savannah, ” Fulton, . Nevada, Nevada, Clark, Clark County, Clark County , Nevada, Washoe County, Nye County, Pennsylvania, Cambria County, Allegheny County, ”, Centre, Bellefonte , Pennsylvania, Milwaukee County, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Arizona, Tempe

☆ The 2024 presidential election may come down to swing states' results. Here's where Trump and Harris lead in the polls.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( John L. Dorman | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Georgia2012 margin: Romney +7.8%Advertisement2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%Related storiesFor decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. Two years later, Biden won Georgia by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual 2021 runoff victories of Sens. Pennsylvania2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%AdvertisementBiden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. Wisconsin2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%Advertisement2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically divided states in the country. But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, —, Joe Biden, Harris, Kevin McCarthy of, Mike Johnson of, suburbanites, Roe, Wade, Trump, Bill Clinton, Kansas Sen, Bob Dole, Barry Goldwater, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Biden, Katie Hobbs, MAGA, Kari Lake, Sen, Mark Kelly, Republican Blake Masters, Adrian Fontes, Hobbs, Mark Finchem, Ruben Gallego, Stacey Abrams —, Georgia —, Abrams, Sens, Raphael Warnock, Jon Ossoff, Kelly Loeffler, David Perdue, midterms, Warnock, Republican Herschel Walker, Walker, Brian Kemp, Gretchen Whitmer, Dana Nessel, Jocelyn Benson, Obama, Clinton, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, Steve Sisolak, reelecting Sen, Catherine Cortez Masto, Adam Laxalt, — Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, Susie Lee —, Arizona GOP Sen, John McCain, Josh Stein, Mark Robinson, Roy Cooper, Gov, John Fetterman, GOP Sen, Pat Toomey, Josh Shapiro, Tom Wolf, Al Gore, John Kerry eked, Tony Evers, Scott Walker —, Tammy Baldwin, Evers, Tim Michels, Ron Johnson, Mandela Barnes Organizations: Swing, Sun, Service, Democratic, Republican, House, Republicans, State, Massachusetts Gov, Trump, Democratic Rep, GOP, Republican Party, Georgia, Gov, Michigan, Silver State, Democratic Gov, North Carolina, Arizona GOP, Romney, Democrats, Senate, Badger State Locations: Midwest, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada , North Carolina , Pennsylvania, Israel, Kevin McCarthy of California, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Ruben Gallego . Georgia, Atlanta, Detroit, Gaza, Nevada, Silver, Clark, Clark County, North Carolina, North, Roy Cooper . Pennsylvania, Scranton, Philadelphia, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh

Some officials pointed to Colorado as a strong example of planning for potential chaos surrounding the electors meeting. GeorgiaIn Georgia, state law mandates that electors “shall” meet at the state Capitol, and elections officials there are making sure they will. MichiganIn Michigan, state law requires electors to meet this year on Dec. 17 in the state Capitol’s Senate chamber. State officials indicated there was no leeway to change that. Per state law, the electors meet in the state House chamber of the state Capitol on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December (Dec. 17).

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris —, ” Elaine Marshall, “, haven’t, they’d, State Jena Griswold, Adrian Fontes, “ We’ve, ” Fontes, Fontes, ”, Mike Hassinger, Brad Raffensperger, Hassinger, hadn’t, ” Angela Benander, Jocelyn Benson, Benander, Gretchen Whitmer, Stacey LaRouche, Whitmer, Whitmer “, Michiganders, Michael Shaw, ” Cecilia Heston, Cisco Aguilar, ” Marshall, ” Amy Gulli, Al Schmidt, Sarah Godlewski, Tony Evers Organizations: Electoral College, Washington , D.C, Colorado, State, . Arizona, Marine Corps, Republican, Capitol Police, Georgia State Patrol, Senate, Michigan State Police, Department of State, Shapiro Administration, Pennsylvania Department of State, The Locations: Washington ,, North Carolina, Colorado, Arizona In Arizona, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, ” Nevada, Nevada, ”, Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin In Wisconsin, Wisconsin

☆ Frustration grows as federal agency struggles to combat election lies spread by Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Some internal proposals to support election officials’ efforts to combat disinformation have made little headway. Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in an interview in Washington, DC, on October 2, 2024. Ben Curtis/APThe agency has advised election officials on how to communicate clearly with voters and to prepare for security incidents. Some election officials interviewed by CNN were skeptical about the federal government’s ability to debunk election lies that are part of a broader rise of misinformation in America. The agency now has a team of former election officials who provide physical and cybersecurity services to election offices around the country.

Persons: Homeland Security’s, CISA, Jen, Ben Curtis, Sen, Mark Warner, “, Elon Musk, Hurricane Helene, ”, ‘, Cait Conley, Stephen Richer, Conley, we’ve, ” Conley, ” Adrian Fontes Organizations: CNN, The Department, Homeland, Agency, Infrastructure Security Agency, Senate Intelligence Committee, Virginia Democrat, Social, Republican, Capitol, Meta, Twitter, YouTube, US, FBI, Russian Locations: Washington ,, Virginia, America, Maricopa County

Postal Service mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona, was set on fire at approximately 1:20 a.m. local time Thursday morning, damaging several ballots and other pieces of mail, according to the Phoenix Fire Department. McDade originally said Thursday that approximately 20 ballots were damaged, but Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes later said that five ballots were affected. McDade said authorities with the fire and police departments are investigating the incident and that the Postal Inspector took possession of the damaged mail. Federal authorities have warned in the lead-up to Election Day that ballots could be intentionally damaged in transit. “I’m deeply troubled by the arson attack on a USPS collection box in Phoenix, which damaged 5 ballots.

Persons: Rob McDade, McDade, Adrian Fontes, Rob Scherer, “ I’m Organizations: . Postal Service, Phoenix Fire Department, Post, Phoenix Police Department, Fontes Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, Arizona, Phoenix

☆ How a cop-turned-therapist is helping election workers deal with threats and harassment
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Every few weeks, a group of active-duty and retired cops gather with election officials to plan for harrowing scenarios on Election Day. Four years after the 2020 election, the threat level hasn’t come down and hostile rhetoric toward election workers is commonplace. Federal and election officials are on edge and are trying to take every security precaution to prevent a violent attack on election workers. The threats, harassment and other pressures have led some election officials, or their family members, to say, “‘Enough is enough. He also leads the state’s Election Threats Task Force, which includes state and federal law enforcement and is designed to detect threats to election workers more quickly.

Persons: Harold Love, ” Love, “, I’m, ’, Donald Trump, —, Brennan, Adrian Fontes, Fontes, ” Fontes, Tina Barton, Barton, Ronna McDaniel, ”, ’ ” Barton, Al Schmidt, Trump, Schmidt, ” Schmidt Organizations: CNN, Secure, Brennan Center for Justice, Federal, Arizona, Republican National Committee, The, Force Locations: Michigan, United States, Maricopa County, Arizona’s, Arizona, City, Rochester Hills , Michigan, Rochester Hills, Indiana, Philadelphia

☆ Arizona lawyers keep distance from GOP's 'election integrity' operation amid concern over Kari Lake's fraud claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | Vaughn Hillyard | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Earlier this month, Kory Langhofer resigned as the chief legal counsel for former President Donald Trump's and the Republican National Committee’s “election integrity” operation in Arizona. “There’s just a perception that [Republican lawyers] are not doing enough proactively,” a second lawyer said about staving off supposed fraud. “Is it possible we are all being gaslit by the @gop regarding a fake ‘Election Integrity’ program that doesn’t actually exist?” Wren wrote in the post. Harmeet Dhillon, attorney and member of the Republican National Committee, will oversee the GOP's legal efforts around the election in Arizona. “We are full steam ahead in our unprecedented dedication to Election Integrity,” she added.

Persons: Kari Lake’s, Kory Langhofer, Donald Trump's, Langhofer, ” “ Kari, ”, “ There’s, staving, Trump, Harmeet Dhillon, Dhillon doesn’t, “, Lake’s, Caroline Wren, Wren, onboarded Dhillon, Dhillon, Kyle Grillot, Gina Swoboda, Swoboda, Kari Lake, Bryan Blehm, Stephen Richer, Richer, Adrian Fontes, — Organizations: Republican National, White, Trump, NBC News, Arizona Republican, GOP, Republican, RNC, Lake, Republican National Committee, Bloomberg, Getty, Arizona Republican Party, NBC, Arizona Republicans, Arizona Supreme Court, Arizona voters, ’, ”, Democratic Locations: PRESCOTT, Ariz, Arizona, —, California, ”, Maricopa County, An Arizona

And they’ve kept up a drumbeat of dubious claims about voting, along with the lie that the election was stolen in 2020. Prosecutors allege that the Trump campaign used similarly aggressive tactics in Philadelphia to force confrontation with election officials, which Trump and his allies used to claim his supporters were denied access to observe the count. Election officials have been operating in an increasingly hostile environment as GOP skepticism of election administration has climbed. Among them: shifting numbers of noncitizens Trump allies claimed had voted in the 2020 election. In Georgia, state courts are reviewing new rules from the State Election Board that Democrats say give county election officials broad authority to delay certification of the results in search of purported election irregularities.

Persons: Donald Trump, They’ve, they’ve, ”, Sean Morales, Doyle, Brennan, ’ playbook, Jack Smith’s, Trump, Hannah Fried, Smith, Rebecca Cook, Brooks, Republican Al Schmidt, Schmidt, “, You’ve, Michael Whatley, Whatley, Zach Manifold, Joshua Lott, noncitizens Trump, hasn’t, Cleta Mitchell, –, “ I’ve, ” Lisa Posthumus Lyons, ” Posthumus Lyons, Jocelyn Benson, Patrick T, Fallon, Mike Pence, Pence, Trump’s, Smith’s, Adrian Fontes, ” Fontes, It’s, Morales, ” CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Fredreka Schouten Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Republican, Trump, GOP, TCF Center, Detroit’s TCF Center, Prosecutors, Republican National, RNC, Guadalupe, Washington Post, Getty, Republicans, America, Legal Foundation, United Sovereign Americans, Center, Fox News, Republican Party, Board, Arizona, Brennan Locations: Detroit , Michigan, Florida, Philadelphia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Gwinnett County , Georgia, ”, Gwinnett County, Guadalupe Mercado, Guadalupe , Arizona, Kent County , Michigan, Swing, Georgia , Michigan, Maricopa, AFP, Georgia, Arizona, Cochise County

☆ Tim Walz: Heading into the VP debate spotlight, Minnesota governor is fighting nerves
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

“He’s a strong person,” said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who’s known Walz since they were each first elected to Washington in 2006. (Though the Transportation secretary is not going as method as Harris’ Trump stand-in did and growing out a beard.) Walz and his team want commonsense indignation to come across, according to several in the know. As they monitor how Vance has been fencing with reporters in Q&As after his many events, Walz aides know their approach risks Walz getting rusty. Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz visit with members of the marching band at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Georgia, on August 28, 2024.

Persons: Tim Walz, JD Vance, Kamala Harris, Harris, Walz, Donald Trump, Vance, “, ”, Minnesota Sen, Amy Klobuchar, who’s, “ He’s, ” Walz, won’t, Alex Soros, “ That’s, Pete Buttigieg, Harris ’ Trump, Trump, pique, Joe Biden, wouldn’t, Mike Pence, Jeff Swensen, who’ve, that’s Harris, Ana Gallardo, Gallardo, “ I’m, Harris –, he’s, Blue Walz ”, doesn’t, Saul Loeb, Adrian Fontes, “ Tim Walz epitomizes, He’s, ” Fontes, don’t, we’ve, Jimmy McCain, Sen, John McCain’s, Joe Manchin, Manchin, Ed Kelly, Paul, Harris ’, Tim Ryan, ” Ryan Organizations: CNN, Trump, Yale, Minnesota, Ohio, Human, High School, Liberty County High School, Getty, White House, Democratic, Republican, InterContinental, Republican US, West, CBS, Senate Locations: Minnesota, Washington, Manhattan, York, Erie , Pennsylvania, exurban, Bethlehem , Pennsylvania, Hinesville , Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, hustling, West Virginia, St, Georgia, New York

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Friday that roughly 98,000 Arizonans whose voter registration status was in limbo will be able to participate in the full ballot in November. “We deeply appreciate the Arizona Supreme Court for their prompt and just resolution,” Fontes added. In 2005, Arizona state law required documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. “Thank you Arizona Supreme Court for your extremely quick and professional review of this matter,’ Richer added. "We’re very grateful to the state Supreme Court for protecting the voices of almost 98,000 voters who were in danger of being disenfranchised in this election,” she added.

Persons: ”, Adrian Fontes, “, ” Fontes, snafu, Ann Scott Timmer, Stephen Richer, Fontes, Richer, ’ Richer, Gina Swoboda, Swoboda Organizations: Arizona Supreme, Democratic, Arizona Supreme Court, MVD, NBC Locations: Arizona, Maricopa County

A top election official in Arizona said he would file a suit Tuesday that could bar almost 100,000 residents from voting in state and local races this fall, claiming they have not provided citizenship documents required under state law. The planned suit from Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer is related to a specific part of Arizona election law that requires residents to provide documents that prove citizenship to vote in state and local elections. Such documents are not required for Arizona residents to register to vote or cast a ballot in federal elections. Since 1996, Arizona has required residents to provide proof of citizenship to obtain a driver’s license. Hobbs said her office would implement "an independent audit to ensure that MVD systems are functioning as necessary to support voter registration."

Persons: Stephen Richer, ”, Richer, ” Richer, Donald Trump, Justin Heap, Adrian Fontes, ” Fontes, “ We’re, Fontes, “, we've, —, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs Organizations: U.S, Citizens, Republican, GOP, Senate, NBC News, Motor Vehicle, Motor Vehicle Department, MVD, Gov, Fontes Locations: Arizona, Maricopa County, U.S, United States, America

☆ Are undocumented immigrants voting in US elections? Here’s the available data
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —House Republicans are flirting with the idea of forcing a government shutdown over the issue of noncitizens voting in US elections. “We have a number of states who have done audits of their voter rolls and found thousands of noncitizens on their voter rolls. Johnson also later referenced Texas as a state where undocumented immigrants have tried to register to vote. “There are a number of states who have shown they have noncitizens on their voter rolls. In 2019, a review of voter rolls in the state seemed to suggest 95,000 noncitizens were on the rolls.

Persons: Mike Johnson —, Donald Trump, ” Johnson didn’t, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Johnson, ”, Critics, it’s, ” David Becker, Greg Abbott, Brandon Bell, Jane Nelson, ” Becker, Frank LaRose, “, ” LaRose, Adrian Fontes, ” Fontes, LaRose, Brad Raffensperger, — Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Republicans, SAVE, noncitizens, Department of Motor Vehicles, Center, Election Innovation, Research, CNN, Texas Gov, Republican, Texas Tribune, Austin Public Library, Texas, Texans, Capitol, Pennsylvania, Associated Press, Heritage Foundation Locations: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, That’s, Austin , Texas, United States of America, Philadelphia, Kansas

The secretary of state's office estimates that 577,971 valid signatures were turned in by Arizona for Abortion Access, a coalition of reproductive rights organizations that includes the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. The Arizona for Abortion Access Act will go before voters under the title "Proposition 139." “This is a huge win for Arizona voters who will now get to vote YES on restoring and protecting the right to access abortion care, free from political interference, once and for all,” Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager for Arizona for Abortion Access, said in a statement. In a video shared by the Arizona secretary of state's office, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes acknowledged the legal hurdles the ballot proposal is likely to face. "This is going to certify that the initiative has made the ballot," said Fontes.

Persons: JP Martin, ” Cheryl Bruce, it’s, ” Chris Love, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, Katie Hobbs, Adrian Fontes, —, Fontes Organizations: NBC, Abortion, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Arizona, U.S, Supreme, Democrats, Democratic, Republican Locations: Arizona

☆ As the RNC ends, swing states’ efforts to fight misinformation ramp up ahead of the election
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Shania Shelton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“2024 is the first American presidential election year at this intersection of election-related mis- and disinformation and the rapid growth of AI generated content. Misinformation spread rapidly through Pennsylvania during the 2020 election as the swing state faced baseless allegations about voting in Pennsylvania, perceived unfairness toward Republican poll-watchers and violations of election rules. Sabir said the misinformation fighting efforts will target voters where they are, including social media, billboards and radio ads. Fontes was recognized in May for his office’s work creating election security tabletop training exercises aimed to protect the state’s election infrastructure. Bellamy said it’s critical to fight misinformation going into this election, and elections are gaining a lot of negative attention.

Persons: CNN —, Ginny Badanes, Ashley O’Rourke, Badanes, O’Rourke, ”, it’s, Megan Bellamy, Donald Trump, Seth Bluestein, “ It’s, ” Bluestein, Omar Sabir, ” Sabir, Sabir, Lawrence Norden, Brennan, ” Norden, Adrian Fontes, Fontes, He’s, ” Fontes, Bellamy, it’ll, ” Bellamy, “, Alexander Kolodin, Kolodin, Katie Hobbs, David Edmonson, TechNet’s, ” Edmonson, Tony Evers, Adam Neylon, they’re, ” Neylon, Lia Holland, ” Holland, I’ve, Trump Organizations: CNN, Republican National Convention, Microsoft, State, Republican, Arizona, Arizona Republican, HB, Democratic, Wisconsin Gov Locations: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Atlanta , Milwaukee, In Arizona, Arizona, Wisconsin

☆ Threats against election workers driving exodus of veteran staff, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Election workers process ballots after polls closed for the U.S. midterm elections at the tabulation center at Cobb County Elections and Registration Center in Marietta, Georgia, U.S., November 8, 2022. WASHINGTON — Physical and cyber threats against election workers are driving people away from the industry, potentially endangering the ability of states to conduct off-year elections like those on Tuesday, and the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Some election experts and secretaries of state said the threats have trended upward since former President Donald Trump and his allies allegedly attempted to undermine, then overthrow, the results of the 2020 presidential election. Witnesses urged senators to invest in protections for election workers ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In recent years, election officials have endured death threats, online harassment and other abusive behavior, according to the Brennan Center.

Persons: Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Adrian Fontes, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Howard, Brennan, Laphonza Butler Organizations: U.S, Administration, Justice Department, Force, Associated Press, Brennan Center for Justice Locations: Cobb County, Marietta , Georgia, U.S, WASHINGTON, Arizona, D

☆ A tide of election worker resignations raises alarms ahead of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A wave of departures by election officials in key states risks adding new stress to the nation’s election system ahead of next year’s presidential contest, voting rights groups and several state election chiefs warn. The growing alarm over the resignations and retirements comes as officials say election workers continue to face a barrage of threats and harassment and partisan interference in their duties, first ignited by false claims of a stolen White House election in 2020. In King County, Washington – which includes Seattle – Julie Wise, the county election director, recalled receiving a letter over the summer with a rant about elections. Election watchdogs say more action is needed – including boosting federal funding and extending a federal law that criminalizes the release of restricted personal information about federal workers to cover election officials. Brinson Bell began tracking the departures when she became the state’s election chief that year.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Adrian Fontes, Pennsylvania –, Republican Al Schmidt, “, Nick Penniman, Schmidt, Donald Trump’s, ” Schmidt, Seattle – Julie Wise, Wise, ’, ” Penniman, Meagan Wolfe, Trump, Wolfe, there’s, Roy Cooper, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, Kathy Holland, Holland, –, Brinson, ” Adam Byrnes, he’s, ” Byrnes, Fontes, ” Fontes, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republican, US Justice Department, National Conference of State Legislatures, Committee, ” Workers, GOP, supermajorities, Gov, North Carolina State Board, Emory University, “ Locations: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, King County , Washington, Seattle, In Wisconsin, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alamance County, Swain County, Georgia

Fontes’s office told the group last month that it is obligated to accept filings from candidates even if party leaders reject them. No Labels has drawn extra scrutiny in Arizona, one of a dozen states where it has secured ballot access for a potential presidential candidate. By refusing to nominate candidates for state offices, No Labels argues it is not subject to Arizona’s campaign finance disclosure laws. The party argues state law allows political parties to participate only in elections that they choose and the U.S. Constitution protects the party’s right to freely associate or not associate with candidates. Candidates have filed statements of interest to run for U.S. Senate and Arizona Corporation Commission, the state’s utility regulator.

Persons: Adrian Fontes, who's, Joe Biden, Biden, they're, ”, Benjamin Chavis Jr, Colleen Connor, Richard Grayson, Donald Trump Organizations: PHOENIX, Democratic, Constitution, NAACP, Fontes, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporation Locations: Arizona, Phoenix, U.S

☆ Fact Check: Katie Hobbs did not step down as governor of Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Arizona governor Katie Hobbs did not step down from her position, contrary to claims shared online following a brief visit by Hobbs out of state. Arizona treasurer Kimberly Yee was temporarily serving as acting governor in line with Arizona state constitution which requires the transfer of power while a governor is out of state. This prompted Yee to serve as acting governor in their absence. Hobbs returned to Arizona on Sept. 28, 2023, and gave a speech at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs did not step down from her role.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Kimberly Yee, Adrian Fontes, Kris Mayes, Fontes, Mayes, Yee, “, ” Yee, Christian Slater, ‘ Hobbs, Alejandro Mayorkas, ’, Read Organizations: Washington D.C, AZ Central, Republican, Fox News, Washington , D.C, Homeland, Tempe Center, Arts, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Arizona, Washington, “ Arizona, Washington ,

Arizona’s governor was out of the state for a day this week, prompting false claims that she’d abruptly resigned or vanished entirely. The Democrat, who has been the target of misinformation since taking office this year, was out of state for meetings in Washington for a day, so the state treasurer briefly served as acting governor. Political Cartoons View All 1190 Images“She has now stepped down as Arizona governor, and it’s raising questions,” claimed one Facebook user in a widely shared video posted on Thursday. “Republican State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is currently the Acting Governor,” wrote another user on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter on Wednesday. The usually unremarkable handover gained attention when Yee released a statement Wednesday acknowledging she’d be serving as acting governor from that evening through Thursday morning.

Persons: she’d, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Joe Biden, ”, Kimberly Yee, “, Christian Slater, Yee, hasn’t, Slater, Alejandro Mayorkas, Sen, John McCain, Adrian Fontes, Kyrsten Sinema, Paul Smith, Leonard, Kris Mayes, Richie Taylor, baselessly, ” Slater Organizations: Arizona, Democrat, “ Republican, Twitter, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Homeland, Tempe Center, Arts, of Regents, U.S, Sen, Infrastructure Security Agency, White House, Drug, Agency, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Kroger Locations: Washington, Arizona, U.S, Flagstaff

The very existence of the No Labels group is fanning Democratic anxiety about Trump’s chances against an incumbent president facing questions about his age and record. If even a small number of those voters were to back a No Labels candidate next year, Biden could fall short. No Labels party members skew younger. Twelve percent of them live in the 4th Congressional District, which includes Arizona State University. Such a poll would be meaningless because a large swath of voters won’t know anything about the No Labels candidate before a campaign is run, he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, hasn't, ”, Rodd McLeod, Biden, Adrian Fontes, Fontes, Richard Grayson, Kamala Harris, Republican Sen, Jeff Flake, Cindy McCain, Sen, John McCain —, Ross Perot, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Jill Stein, Hillary Clinton ’, Stein, Trump, Matt Bennett, Benjamin Chavis, Sam Almy, they've, they’ll, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Joe Lieberman, Jon Huntsman, Larry Hogan, Larry Hogan of Maryland, Ryan Clancy, we’re, ” Clancy Organizations: PHOENIX, Trump, White, Democratic, Biden, Democratic Party, Phoenix, Trump Republicans, Republican, Green, NAACP, Republicans, Congressional, Arizona State University, Super, Republican Gov Locations: Arizona, Pinal County, George H.W ., Michigan , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona , Georgia, Washington, Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, West Virginia, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Utah, Larry Hogan of

☆ 2020 election interference probe: New glimpses into investigation suggest peril could be growing for Trump and his associates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Revelations that special counsel Jack Smith has been digging into efforts to overturn former President Donald Trump’s Arizona election loss in 2020 bolster growing indications that his investigation is nearing a critical point. Smith has already made Trump the first former president to be formally accused of federal crimes. But a flurry of details about Smith’s inquiries into alleged election-stealing efforts suggest his investigators have had an industrious summer. He said he talked about a call that he had with Trump and Giuliani after the election, and a second call just from Trump. Prosecutors were also set to talk to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, CNN reported in June.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump’s, Smith, Trump, pushback, Rusty Bowers –, –, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Rudy Giuliani, He’s, specter, it’s, Bowers, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Giuliani, Smith’s, Adrian Fontes, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Brad Raffensperger, Robert Costello, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, Patrick Byrne Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Arizona House, FBI, GOP, Capitol, Arizona Republican, Arizona Republic, Arizona’s, Prosecutors Locations: Donald Trump’s Arizona, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Washington, Manhattan, Trump, Nevada, York

☆ Six battleground states will hold the key to the White House in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AP Photo/Andrew HarnikGeorgia2012 margin: Romney +7.8%2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%For decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. Two years later, Biden won the state by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual 2021 runoff victories of Sens. AP Photo/Matt RourkePennsylvania2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%Biden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. AP Photo/Andy Manis, FileWisconsin2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically-divided states in the country. But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

☆ Fact Check-Heat map showing Republican voters in Maricopa County does not prove that voter fraud was committed during the midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A photograph of a heat map showing Republican voters in Maricopa County, Arizona, has been shared online along with unfounded claims that fraud was committed during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. The Maricopa County Elections Department told Reuters that the picture circulating online has been cropped and that claims they only have the Republican heat map in their offices are false. In the MCTEC hallway, we have a Democratic In-Person Voter Turnout Map, a Republican In-Person Voter Turnout Map, and a Total Voter In-Person Turnout Map”, Gilbertson said. The Maricopa County Elections Department has maps with voter data on its website, including one of voting precincts by party majority (scroll down “Geography layers”) (here). A photograph of a heat map showing only Republican voters in Maricopa County does not prove that fraud was committed during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, contrary to claims on social media.

An Arizona judge on Friday dismissed Republican Mark Finchem's lawsuit seeking a new secretary of state election after he lost the race in November to Democrat Adrian Fontes. In her ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian dismissed Finchem’s lawsuit against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, and Fontes, confirming Fontes' election win. The judge dismissed his misconduct allegations with prejudice — barring them from being brought back in another court — and called some of his claims "fatally flawed." He also supported a partisan review of Maricopa County’s election results, even though the review reaffirmed Biden’s victory. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate who lost Arizona's governor's race, filed a lawsuit this month challenging certification of the state's election results and seeking a court order that declares her the winner.

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