The 2022 elections are around the corner, and a wave of new state laws is underway to limit the free exercise of American democracy. These bills, fueled by election denialism and falsehoods about foreign interference, would hurt the people who make fair elections possible. They would impose heavy personal and financial burdens on election officials and nonprofit groups, punishing those who are trying to make our elections work. They would also put voters at risk by exposing them to doxing and unwarranted voter purges.
The debate over electoral interference shifted after the 2016 presidential election, when it became clear that Russian government agents had sought to support Donald Trump’s candidacy. But it remains unclear whether this interference made much difference in the final result, or even whether it was deliberate. Instead, it seemed more likely that the meddling was simply a response to preexisting trends: a widening rural/urban divide, deep resentments about corruption and economic malaise, and a lack of trust in the political system.
The debate has shifted to how prepared the United States is, both public and private, to counter future attempts by foreign governments to subvert our elections. The debate includes questions about the best ways to deter foreign meddling, and concerns about safeguarding or limiting freedoms of speech and expression.
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