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On March 9th, in yet another blatant attack on democracy and elections, the FBI seized 2020 election records from Maricopa County, Arizona – the largest and one of the most diverse counties in the state. This attack is the latest instance of the Trump Administration’s efforts to weaponize federal law enforcement in pursuit of its authoritarian agenda.
This seizure comes five years after an audit affirmed Trump’s loss in 2020, and less than two months after the FBI conducted a nearly identical raid here in Georgia. Despite courts and audits debunking false claims of widespread voter fraud across both Arizona and Georgia, federal law enforcement continues to act on this narrative and wrongfully target state electoral operations.
As we have said when news of the Fulton County raid first broke, it was just the beginning. Fulton County was a test case for the federal government to gauge how and where to scale their efforts to undermine elections and to see just how far they can take things. Challenging 2020 results all these years later serves no purpose other than to weaken elections by fueling disinformation, sowing doubt and distrust among voters, intimidating election workers, and impeding upon states’ authority over their own electoral processes. This is especially concerning as Trump has been open about his eagerness to take over elections in at least 15 unnamed states. And by pushing the false narrative that states are unable to hold free and fair elections on their own accord, the Trump administration is laying the groundwork to do just that.
Disinformation negatively impacts elections in multiple ways. It is often targeted and disproportionately impacts voters from historically marginalized communities and who otherwise face barriers to accessing the ballot. It also creates risks and challenges for election workers, with 64% reporting in 2022 that the spread of false information has made their jobs more dangerous, according to research by the Brennan Center for Justice. Last, but not least, it creates space for anti-voter laws, erodes public trust in elections, increases polarization, and decreases voter turnout.
When elections are deemed less trustworthy, and the people who run elections feel unsafe in doing their jobs, it is our democracy that suffers while bad actors get their way. Widespread false claims of unsecure elections may make voters more amenable to bold actions at the federal level, such as a federal takeover over state elections. This is a dangerous precedent to set for future elections, and why we must actively challenge conspiracies and disinformation when we see it — here in Georgia, in Arizona, and in every other state where it pops up.
What’s happening in Arizona and Georgia is something to be concerned about, but it should not cause us to lose all hope. We can — and will — still fight for our democracy.
Our team Common Cause Georgia team will continue to closely follow the situation here in Georgia to identify opportunities to act, and support our colleagues in Arizona as they navigate this recent escalation by federal law enforcement.
As opportunities arise, we will invite you to join us. Follow along with our work to stay tuned for more calls to action.
We must demand accountability and transparency, and tell the federal government to keep their hands off our elections.
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