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10/23 Daily Update: VPP Protects Election Integrity

Key Dates & Deadlines

Vote Early Day: Saturday, October 24th is Vote Early Day 2020

Voter Registration Deadlines

Early Voting Begins

For detailed information on voting-related deadlines, visit vote.org.

National Updates

Protecting Election Integrity: Yesterday, the VPP held a press briefing to discuss efforts state and local leaders are taking to protect the integrity of the election, with North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, and Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams (both members of our bipartisan Advisory Board). Benjamin Freed of StateScoop highlighted AG Stein’s comments calling out President Trump’s suggestion that his supporters attempt to vote twice — by mail and in person — and that they visit polling places on Election Day to act as “observers.” Read the full story here.

Voter Intimidation: Yesterday, law enforcement officials in St. Petersburg, Florida said they would station deputies at five early voting sites as a precaution, the day after two armed men claiming to be security guards appeared to be stationed outside a polling place. The League of Women Voters expressed concern that the presence of the deputies may itself deter voters from the polls, citing a history of barriers to voting in St. Petersburg. Read more from the New York Times here.

Preparing for Election Week: POLITICO did a deep dive analysis based on election experts’ wargaming of post-election night scenarios, adding to national conversations about the likelihood of some states reporting results days after November 3. Read the full analysis in POLITICO here.

State Updates

Arizona: The Police Department in Chandler, AZ (a suburb of Phoenix) is asking residents to “be on high alert” because it has received reports about an unidentified woman going door-to-door asking to mail voters’ ballots on their behalf. The Chandler Police Department has been in contact with the offices of the Arizona Secretary of State and Attorney General. Read more from AZ Family here.

Minnesota: Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison won a court settlement ensuring that Tennessee-based security company Atlas Aegis will not recruit or provide private security at or near polling places in Minnesota for the November 3rd election. News media reported that the company had been recruiting guards on the false premise of protecting polling sites from “antifa.” Read the press release here.

New Jersey: Yesterday, a federal judge dismissed the Trump campaign’s lawsuit against Secretary of State Tahesha Way, challenging New Jersey’s mail-in voting rules. Judge Michael Shipp dismissed the case after finding that the plaintiffs’ claim of being injured by mail-in voting was entirely speculative, since there was no proof of imminent harm from (nonexistent) voter fraud. Read the opinion here.

North Carolina: On Thursday, North Carolina state legislators filed an application to the U.S. Supreme Court, in an attempt to stop North Carolina from accepting mail-in ballots after Election Day. Attorney General Josh Stein issued a written statement, quoted by The News & Observer, stating: “If voters comply with the statute and mail in their ballots on or before Election Day, they should not be penalized by slow mail delivery in a pandemic.”

Pennsylvania: The Hill covered Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s comments from his appearance on MSNBC “Morning Joe” on Thursday. Shapiro said: “It’s hard to predict what this president will do. He and his enablers and his legal team have been incredibly erratic.” The article notes the AG has publicly shared his preparations to stop voter suppression. Read more in The Hill here.

State Leaders Spotlight

Below you will find a roundup of actions attorneys general are taking around voter protection and discouraging voter intimidation.

Colorado

Illinois

  • AG Raoul shared online guidance to help voters understand their rights during the election.

Maryland

  • AG Frosh issued guidance on voter intimidation with examples of what is illegal at the polls and detailed how to vote if you missed the online registration deadline.

Massachusetts

Michigan

New Jersey

  • AG Grewal issued guidance on law enforcement involvement in election activities and protections against voter intimidation.

New York

  • AG James created a video on how to vote by mail and her office issued guidance to Board of Election offices and law enforcement entities throughout the state to protect New Yorkers from voter intimidation on, and before, Election Day.

North Carolina 

Rhode Island

  • AG Neronha issued a Know Your Rights guide for voters with Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea.

Virginia 

  • AG Herring shared his letter to key law enforcement officials to reassure voters they will be safe while voting in person and attended a Rock the Vote event.

Wisconsin