Defending Democracy in the US, Daily Brief October 2, 2024

The US finally heads to the polls on November 5, after a seemingly endless campaign season, fantastically long for those living in most other democracies. The years of daily drama, with all their agonizing and unlikely plot twists, can almost make you forget these national elections are not a Netflix show in its eleventh season that jumped the shark in its fourth.

But whether you’re obsessed with the drama or exhausted by it, you can’t turn the channel, because this show is all too real, and these elections could have major impact on hundreds of millions of people both inside and outside the country.

From the human rights standpoint, there are many key issues at stake in these elections, including many we’ve highlighted in the Daily Brief in the past – from children’s rights to health care to racial justice to immigration to foreign affairs. As always with all elections everywhere, we want a concern for human rights to be at the core of these public policy issues and influence how people should vote.

But this time around in the US, there’s something more besides. It can seem as if democracy itself is at stake, because of attacks on and threats to the democratic process in recent times.

For example, election officials in the US have not always been able to do their jobs in safety, as should be the case. A survey found one in four local election administrators experienced abuse, harassment, or threats during the last two election cycles.

Election administrators in the US states of Colorado and Arizona have faced online threats. In Michigan, administrators received threatening voicemails. Some election officials in Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington were sent letters laced with the potent opioid drug fentanyl.

There have also been disturbing threats to voters. In a 2022 survey, 43 percent of respondents reported concerns about intimidation or threats of violence while voting.

Actions by the authorities in states like Texas and Tennessee targeting specific groups – like people with a criminal record and naturalized citizens – can intimidate eligible voters. An “illegal voting tipline” in Texas seems almost designed to encourage harassment along ethnic and racial lines.  

These are all causes for serious concern, as the US enters the final stretch of this election season. Election officials and voters need protection against those trying to subvert the democratic process.

The glass-half-full view on all this is the US hopefully has what it takes to confront the challenge. The country is home to a strong network of democracy protection activists, organizations, and attorneys who have deep experience in dealing with these issues. They know how to push back on violations against the rights of election administrators and voters.

The next few dramatic weeks will no doubt see them fighting hard to defend democracy across the country.