Democracy Defense Project

Last June, ahead of #Election2024, we launched the Democracy Defense Project, dedicated to building trust in American democracy and bolstering support for our nation’s electoral system. Our bipartisan leadership team—composed of former elected officials and influential leaders from key battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—has traveled across these states to advocate for the transparency, security, and integrity of our elections. Since the formation of DDP, we’ve witnessed a positive shift in voter trust in U.S. elections. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, 88% of voters believe the 2024 elections were run and administered at least somewhat well—an impressive increase of nearly 30 percentage points since 2020. Learn more about our leadership team: https://lnkd.in/eNH6EGxm

As we kick off 2025, #elections are already on the horizon in Wisconsin. Two members of our Wisconsin Leadership Team, former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes and Attorney General JB Van Hollen, are urging the #Wisconsin state legislature to implement essential updates to the state’s #election laws to bolster voter trust. Their proposed measures include allowing the pre-processing of absentee ballots and establishing a standardized security framework for drop boxes. “It’s time to figure out why folks continue to doubt these results and address them—starting with clearing up the confusion around how we can return our ballots,” write Lt. Gov. Barnes and AG Van Hollen. “Our bipartisan board supports reforms that make our election process more transparent, equitable for all voters across the state, and accessible to every eligible voter.” Read their latest op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A recent poll from The Associated Press - NORC at the University of Chicago revealed that a majority of voters had confidence in the #Election2024 vote count; however, independent and younger voters expressed lower confidence in the vote count, highlighting the ongoing need to strengthen trust in our electoral process. As we move forward, we are more committed than ever to building voter confidence and safeguarding the integrity of our elections. Discover more key insights from the poll: https://lnkd.in/eyeHuTx6

Former Michigan Governor John Engler joins All Talk with Kevin Dietz on WJR 760 AM to discuss #Election2024 and share his insights on enhancing election procedures to boost voter confidence and safeguard the integrity of future Michigan elections. Tune in to part of their conversation:

This week, former Michigan Lt. Governor John Cherry appeared on Michigan's Big Show starring Michael Patrick Shiels to discuss our Michigan Leadership Team’s new op-ed in The Detroit News, highlighting how the #Election2024 process was efficiently and effectively managed across the Great Lakes State. Tune in to part of their conversation below and read their op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/eFzVS8_r

A new poll from The Associated Press - NORC at the University of Chicago found that 57% of voters had “a great deal/quite a bit” of confidence in the 2024 presidential election vote count – up 11 percentage points from 2023 and 18 percentage points from 2020.   Additionally, poll results showed that voters have even more confidence in the vote count at state and local levels – aligning with our own polling across key battleground states this past fall.   Learn about more key findings from the recent poll:

Michiganders agree: the 2024 election was fair, accurate and secure – with only a few minor irregularities that were promptly addressed; however, at DDP, we know that work to improve and strengthen our elections must continue.   “While Michigan’s elections process worked as intended, with our current safety and security measures upholding the integrity of our votes, we believe in continuous improvement,” our Michigan Leadership Team writes. “Michigan, like every other state, can always do things better, boosting both election integrity and public confidence at the same time.”   Read more from DDP Michigan on how #Election2024 was conducted—and future improvements ahead— in The Detroit News:

In 2024, we saw a notable increase in voter confidence in our democratic system. However, there is still important work to be done to further strengthen faith in our electoral process. As we look to the year ahead, we remain committed to building trust and safeguarding the integrity of our elections.

From all of us at the Democracy Defense Project, we send you warm wishes for a joyful, peaceful, and safe holiday season!

A recent Pew Research Center poll reveals that 88% of voters believe U.S. elections were run and administered at least somewhat well, a significant increase from just 59% in 2020—a remarkable jump of nearly 30 points! When voters have confidence in the electoral process, they are more inclined to participate, reinforcing the foundation of our democracy. Explore more insights from the poll here: