Georgia’s primary election is still a few weeks away, but it looks like it may be another mess in the Peach State.
Once again, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is under scrutiny for the state’s new touchscreen voting machines. Raffensperger reportedly has repeated that paper ballots would be given “a physical recount,” but a proposed election rule will bar hand recounts and require any recount to be done through a machine. (read more)
ICYMI: Last week, we learned that a cybersecurity expert found evidence that suggests the state’s central election server was hacked as recently as 2014. (read more)
Protecting the 2020 election: As problems loom in Georgia, other states are taking steps to ensure their voting machines are ready for the primary election. After the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that Russia had accessed Illinois’ voter registration database in the months before the 2016 election, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spent $21 million on new voting machines and “fortified its online defenses.” Plus, most voters will cast a ballot by using a hand-marked paper ballot. (read more)
Internet voting faces pushback: A new bill in Puerto Rico could drastically change how voters cast a ballot, despite serious cybersecurity concerns. The bill would have all Puerto Ricans voting online, beginning in 2028, but the ACLU is pushing back and calling on the governor to veto the bill. In fact, they cited a recent federal lawsuit in Georgia — where a judge ordered the state to scrap its electronic voting machines — as a reason to stop the internet voting plan. (read more)
Let the horse race (officially) begin: Election season is officially underway as Iowa caucus-goers decide today who they think can go toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump in the general election. It’s a thrilling time for caucus-goers, but caucuses are also unique in that they strip voters of their right to a secret ballot. Which raises the question: Why do they still play such a big role in choosing a president? (read more)
A note about the 2020 election: With massive voter roll purges and polling place closures in recent years, it’s important to make sure you’re registered to vote and have a plan to get to your polling place. Or, if you live in a state that allows any-reason voting by mail, make sure you’ve requested your ballot and send it back before the deadline. If you encounter any issues on Election Day, contact us at FairElectionsTips@WhoWhatWhy.org.
Get your read on with our picks of the week:
- What Happens If Iowa and Nevada Caucuses Are Disrupted? (National Memo)
- You Can Now Report Voter Suppression on Twitter Ahead of the 2020 Election (The Verge)
- Appeals Court Finds Arizona Intended to Suppress Nonwhite Votes (Slate)
- Challenge to Illinois Vote Audit in 2016 Primary Election Fails (Bloomberg)
- Using Only ‘a Phone Book,’ Can You Commit Voter Fraud in NC? (Politifact)
