Prebunking Election Myths

We are 10 days out from a highly consequential midterm election in the United States. That’s surely an understatement, but I don’t want to offer up a post full of hyperbole at this time. I think this is the moment for sober, clear-eyed, determined takes.

Those who work on mis- and dis-information have often focused on the concept of pre-bunking. There is only so much one can do to address the many lies that spread online — and often, lies spread more quickly than the truth on social media. One thing one can do: set forth the lies that are forthcoming and pre-bunk them. Those of us who believe deeply in the Rule of Law and in the integrity of our elections — and I believe most Americans do — have an opportunity in the coming weeks to make the case for our electoral system and debunk the lies that are coming fast and furious and which will no doubt come after the elections, too.

The New Yorker has a story today from one of the most serious observers of democracy and elections in America, Barton Gellman. I found this note about his article in David Remnick’s summary particularly resonant:

Much of the hope for the nation’s election integrity this cycle rests on local officials, including Republicans, who have stood up to immense pressure from Trump, and even faced death threats from strangers. Gellman profiles the lieutenant governor of Utah, Deidre Henderson, who is tasked with running the state’s elections, and has fought a lonely, and boldly public, battle for the rule of law. “It sure looks like they’re trying to take over control of elections to make sure only people they want to vote are voting,” Henderson tells Gellman, about the Administration’s actions. “To me, as an American and a Republican, it’s offensive.”

Things that were true before are still true:

• Local officials and the states control elections, not the federal government.
• An impressive array of local officials, across party lines, have stood up for the Rule of Law when it has been on the line.
• Mail in voting and early voting are both legal.
• The number of people who have been voting illegally is tiny.
• The people who are closest to election administration want a smooth, fair, just process.
• Judges across America have shown a willingness to stand up to the sustained attacks on the Rule of Law over the past two years.
• It is not lawful for the Administration to send ICE to the polls on election day in the states.
• There are many bi-partisan efforts that have been running for years to protect voters and to prepare the legal work to ensure the Rule of Law (check out the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections as one of many strong initiatives devoted to this cause in a cross-partisan manner.

These facts are offered to prebunk where it is obvious the claims will come from those who will seek to deny these election results. There is no question this will happen; it is unlawful; and it will not work if the people of the United States stand up to this nonsense.

I don’t see Election Integrity or the Rule of Law as a remotely partisan issue. Sure, in this cycle and recently, it definitely seems as though one side has gone over the deep end in terms of undermining it, while the other is vociferously defending both Election Integrity and the Rule of Law.

It is unlikely that there would be any huge new surprise attack on elections. We’ve seen the playbook now for years and years. I am buoyed by the fact that there are many, many people across America who see it for what it is and do not stand for these shenanigans in both parties and in every state — those who find it offensive and dangerous to be playing a nasty game with something as important as a national midterm election, with so very much on the line.