Public Wise Launches Complete Election Threat Index; Identifies Over 345 Election Deniers Serving in Public Office
MEDIA CONTACT: publicwise@berlinrosen.com
On the heels of releasing the Election Threat Index for Arizona and Pennsylvania earlier this year, the complete Election Threat Index is expanded to Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin to track the impact of election deniers currently in office
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Wise, a voting rights organization which works to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people, expanded the Election Threat Index to include data from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. The Election Threat Index is a free online public tool identifying and examining the impact of election deniers serving in state and local offices working on election administration.
“Though many election deniers and insurrectionists lost on the national stage in 2022, others have sought local, less competitive races in order to gain power. The Election Threat Index shows just how many of these individuals have already succeeded and are using their authority to undermine our elections—the ultimate threat to our democracy,” said Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director of Public Wise. “Election denialism is part of a decades-long strategy to return our country to a place ruled by a white and wealthy few. In the midst of a general election, democracy needs to be a top priority when voters head to the ballot box this November.”
The newly expanded tool now tracks how local and state officials across seven key battleground states are introducing, voting on, and passing anti-democratic legislation ahead of the 2024 election. The positions include state officials and legislators, county supervisors and commissioners, sheriffs, and positions at the municipal level.
Key findings in the newly expanded Election Threat Index include:
- Across Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin there are 348 total election deniers in public office
- There are 14 individuals in Florida and 57% are in favor of initiatives that limit how votes are counted
- There are 47 individuals in Georgia and 85% are in favor of initiatives that limit how votes are cast
- There are 73 individuals in Michigan and those in the State House represent 24% of the states’ constituents
- There are 20 individuals in North Carolina and 55% are in favor of anti-democratic legislation
- There are 43 individuals in Wisconsin and 65% are in favor of initiatives that limit how votes are cast
Earlier this year, Public Wise released the Election Threat Index for Arizona and Pennsylvania, which found that:
- 46 elected officials in Arizona have credibly participated in election denial activities and 47% of Arizona’s constituents are represented by election deniers in the state legislature.
- 105 elected officials in Pennsylvania have credibly participated in election denial activities and 37% are in favor of anti-democratic legislation in Pennsylvania.
Since the insurrection, Public Wise has been a leading voice in calling for accountability for elected officials who participate in anti-democratic activities. In 2022 they launched the Insurrection Index which holds over 1,800 records of individuals and organizations in public trust who played a role in the insurrection. The newly expanded Election Threat Index is an extension of this work, and is designed to identify local and state-level officials who have credibly participated in election denial activities. Public Wise and their grassroots partners then work to hold these individuals accountable, counter their attempts to suppress voters, and elect candidates committed to upholding our democracy.
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Persistent and unyielding in our commitment to a just multiracial democracy, Public Wise fights to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people. We accomplish this through education, research, organizing, funding, and partnerships that support more voting and more equitable representation.