Georgia's elections are back in the headlines, with renewed claims from politicians trying to rig election rules and cling to power.
The facts: more than 60 court cases, a statewide hand audit, and reviews by election officials from both parties, including Georgia's Republican secretary of state, found that the results of the 2020 election accurately reflected the ballots cast by Georgia voters.
However, knowing the facts isn't enough.
Misinformation spreads and thrives when people don't know what’s happening in their local election offices. Often, misinformation fuels voter suppression and intimidation. The best way to push back isn't responding after false claims have led to bad election policy; it's continuing to advocate for free and fair access to the ballot before bad policy takes hold.
Our advocacy means the most at Board of Elections meetings. Most people never attend these meetings, but many of the decisions that shape Election Day happen there.
LEAD volunteers show up. Our Local Elections Advocates and Defenders program is a network of trained, nonpartisan volunteers who attend elections meetings across Georgia, document what happens, and report on the decisions of local election officials.
The meetings cover issues that directly impact voters, including polling location changes, early voting plans, precinct adjustments, accessibility, staffing, and voter challenges. By creating a reliable record of what happens, LEAD volunteers ensure communities, journalists, and advocates can turn to documented facts instead of speculation.
We're growing our LEAD network and need people to watch election board meetings in more counties statewide.
If you want to help fight election misinformation, not after it spreads, but before, become a LEAD volunteer. Sign up for training, monitor your local elections board, and help ensure your community has the facts.
Sign up to become a LEADer today. Check back soon for more Know Your Voting Rights resources, and follow us on social media for the latest on our efforts to protect Georgia's elections.
