Republican Group Bands Together to Uphold Integrity of US Elections
TL/DR –
Gabriel Sterling, a top election official in Georgia and a Republican, is spearheading a movement that aims to unite Republican officials in defending US election systems, in response to ongoing claims about widespread fraudulent activity in the 2020 presidential election. This initiative is coordinated by the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and the R Street Institute, a center-right think tank, and involves encouraging officials to reassure the public that elections are secure and accurate. The campaign is particularly targeted towards Republicans, with a 2021 poll revealing that only 22% of Republicans expressed high confidence in the accuracy of vote counting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Election Day Anomaly Spurs Discussion on Voting Security
On election day last November, Georgia election official, Gabriel Sterling, found himself addressing a voting machine issue in Pennsylvania to his almost 71,000 followers on social media platform X. Despite his attempts to ensure all votes would be accurately counted, he faced backlash from critics questioning his involvement in another state’s affairs.
Sterling is part of a Republican movement advocating for the defense of election systems in the US, a crusade born after the 2020 elections. This group of officials aims to cement the belief in secure and precise elections, with several state-level meetings lined up ahead of the November 5 election.
Notably, in the lead-up to a probable faceoff between Democratic President Joe Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump, there is a concerning level of public distrust of voting procedures, especially among Republicans. Trump, the likely GOP nomination, continues to fuel doubts about the 2020 elections, hinting at a potential Democratic foul play without providing any evidence.
Polls show that only 22% of Republicans have high confidence in an accurate vote count in the forthcoming November elections.
Initiated approximately 18 months ago, the Republican-led movement to restore trust in elections is coordinated by the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and the R Street Institute, a center-right think tank. They aim to stimulate discussions about election trust, primarily among conservative officials, and outline principles to achieve this objective.
“This campaign is broader than Trump, focusing more on principles of democracy and rule of law,” explains Matt Germer, director of governance for the R Street Institute.
The collective stresses that Republican officials should actively support the security and integrity of elections across the US, avoiding actions that incite doubt about elections in other jurisdictions.
Election professionals like Kim Wyman encourage fellow Republicans to endorse the security measures and control protocols that each state employs, fostering a sense of integrity in elections.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab echoes such sentiments, emphasizing the trust required within his jurisdiction for successful elections.
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