Brennan Center for Justice [THE INSIDER]

Information Gaps and Misinformation in the 2022 Elections

SUMMARY: False claims about the 2020 election have prompted anti-voter laws and mistrust in the process. Election officials, civic groups, and the media must act against the threat of election misinformation.

Countering Election Misinformation:
False claims about the 2020 election have sparked a wave of restrictive voting legislation across the country, as well as confusion about proper election procedures. Misinformation has emerged to fill these gaps and erode public trust in elections. A new Brennan Center report details strategies that election officials, the media, civic groups, and individuals can use to stop the spread of misinformation and ensure voters have the knowledge they need to cast their ballots.

Tracking Election Deniers Running for Office
Supporters of the Big Lie of a “stolen” 2020 election have continued to win primary races in battleground states and amass record-breaking financial support. In Arizona, for example, Republican primary voters nominated election deniers for all three top statewide offices. This is no coincidence — it comes after concerted efforts by Arizona’s Republican leaders to spread voter fraud myths. But opponents of the Big Lie are pushing back, highlighting the dangers of election denialism to inspire support for their own campaigns. The latest edition of our resource tracking the issue looks at fundraising levels and candidate statements in key states.

Racial Motivations Behind Anti-Voter Laws
Many have blamed the alarming pattern of state voter suppression laws on partisan efforts by legislators to change election rules to favor their party. But that isn’t the whole story. Brennan Center research finds that white racial resentment — and not just partisanship and competitiveness alone — is a significant driver of restrictive voting laws. A new analysis illustrates how the most racially diverse states under single-party control are far more likely to introduce and pass measures that make it harder to vote

How Did Redistricting Go?
This redistricting cycle produced maps that aren’t nearly as fair as they could be. Due to partisan gerrymandering, there are now fewer competitive districts than at any point in the last five decades. As such, the fight for control of the House will come down to an increasingly small number of districts. But the news isn’t all bad. Thanks to efforts by courts and independent commissions, both Democrats and Republicans still have viable paths to win a House majority