Election officials have always played a critical role in ensuring that our votes are cast and counted fairly. But in recent years, the landscape of election work has dramatically changed. No longer seen as a quiet, behind-the-scenes service, election officials are now on the front lines of an increasingly toxic environment, facing harassment, threats, and a flood of misinformation.

In this episode of Democracy Fix, two seasoned election officials, Tonya Wichman, Director of Elections in Defiance County, Ohio, and Wesley Wilcox, Supervisor of Elections in Marion County, Florida join Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Angelina Clapp to discuss the evolving role of election administration, and how they’re standing up against the tide of misinformation and political interference to ensure the integrity of our elections. Both Tonya and Wesley are featured in the powerful new documentary, The Officials, which shines a light on the pressures and challenges they and their colleagues across the country face as they prepare for the 2024 presidential election.

Links in this episode:

The Officials film and companion toolkit

In this episode of Democracy Fix, Tina Barton, senior election expert at The Elections Group, and former Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) join hosts Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Jeanne Broome to discuss the biggest threats facing U.S. elections and what is being done to address them. Both guests emphasize that the greatest danger is the potential non-acceptance of election results. Congressman Wamp warns that "The biggest problem is the peaceful transfer of power. Without it, we risk losing the very essence of American exceptionalism.” Barton highlights another dimension to the challenges to election integrity in 2024: the spread of false information from both foreign adversaries and domestic sources, which she describes as "intentionally aimed at causing division and confusion. The episode explores how election officials are preparing to counter these threats through increased cybersecurity, public education, and bipartisan collaborations. The conversation underscores that voters need to get information from trusted sources, such as their state and local election offices, and be patient, and calm as election results may not be known on Election Night.

Links in this episode:

• Committee for Safe and Secure Elections
• Issue One’s National Council on Election Integrity
• How Elections Work

In this episode, hosts Carah Ong Whaley, Angelina Clapp, and Mia Minkin sit down with King County, WA Director of Elections Julie Wise for a deep dive into the county’s award-winning initiatives to ensure all voices are heard in elections. Known for her passionate advocacy for voter accessibility and election transparency, Wise discusses the critical role of trained, nonpartisan election administrators in preserving democracy.

She highlights the challenges faced by election officials across the country, including the need for consistent and reliable federal funding, the impact of the spread of false election information, and the rise in threats against election workers. Despite the challenges, Wisee’s dedication to increasing voter participation and improving election systems remains unwavering.

Whether you're a policy wonk or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes in our elections, this episode is packed with insights on how to build a more inclusive and transparent democratic process.

Tune in to hear about the inspiring work being done in King County, WA to strengthen the foundation of our democracy.

Episode links:

• King County, WA Elections
• Voter Education Fund