You’ve Got Mail
Plus: The presidential debate is next week. 🗳️
Published September 6, 2024
The general election is almost here. In some states, mail voting and in-person early voting will begin in the next two weeks. So it’s a good time to get to know your state’s chief election official.
In most states, that’s the secretary of state. They have crucial roles and responsibilities in election administration, including overseeing testing and certification of voting systems. They’re also the best source for nonpartisan, truthful information about elections.
States United Action and Fund for States recently launched a project to help voters in three states—Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada—learn more about their state’s chief election official. You can watch videos featuring the officials at whocountsmyvote.org.
And for more on elections in your state, a good place to start is CanIVote.org, a nonpartisan resource from the National Association of Secretaries of State. It links directly to state election websites and trusted, fact-checked resources.
This Week in Democracy
- The U.S. Department of Justice announced a series of actions aimed at disrupting foreign efforts to influence American elections. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the department seized 32 internet domains used to spread propaganda from the Russian government. The department also filed criminal charges against two Russians accused of funding a Tennessee-based company connected to right-wing commentators and influencers.
- Donald Trump once again pleaded not guilty to four felonies in the federal election interference case after last week’s superseding indictment. Judge Tanya Chutkan set a series of deadlines on Thursday, aiming to keep the case moving. At a hearing, she rebuffed Trump’s attempts to slow down the trial. “This court is not concerned with the electoral schedule,” she said.
- The first presidential debate between Trump and Kamala Harris is scheduled for next Tuesday, September 10, at 9 p.m. EDT. ABC News, which will host the debate, released the rules for the debate on Wednesday.
- States United published a new resource to help election officials build and maintain relationships with law enforcement. The resource offers concrete steps officials can take to ensure that, amid a heightened threat landscape, officials and voters alike stay safe.
➡️ READ: The full resource
State of the States
In Pennsylvania, an appeals court ruled that Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties must count eligible mail-in ballots that are undated or incorrectly dated. Voter advocacy groups brought the case, arguing that disenfranchising otherwise eligible voters whose ballots are undated or incorrectly dated violates Pennsylvania’s constitution. Since election officials can independently confirm that a ballot was sent and received within the legal voting window—because every mail-in and absentee ballot in Pennsylvania is tracked—a written date serves no purpose, the groups argued.
“The refusal to count undated or incorrectly dated but timely mail ballots submitted by otherwise eligible voters because of meaningless and inconsequential paperwork errors violates the fundamental right to vote,” Judge Ellen Ceisler wrote in the decision.
“This decision is a victory for Pennsylvanians’ fundamental right to vote,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on social media. “I’ll always protect your right to a free, secure, and fair election.”
Sticker Season
It’s the season of the stickers! The winners of the contests to design “I Voted” stickers in Michigan and Kentucky were recently announced.
“I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and creativity from the people of our great state,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. “Now, let’s use the same energy in casting a vote this November.”
It was a close contest in Kentucky. “The margin, while close, is outside the recanvass threshold and Lizard Man has graciously conceded,” Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said.
To get your sticker, make sure you’re registered to vote at CanIVote.org.
