A key swing county in suburban [Atlanta](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/atlanta) approved nearly $50,000 this week to purchase “panic buttons” for election workers, a move that comes as those who administer elections have faced increased threats and harassments. Commissioners in Cobb county approved the purchase of about 200 of the devices, which are about the size of a credit card, according to [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/officials-explore-equipping-election-workers-panic-buttons-combat-risi-rcna166508), which first reported on the purchase. The devices alert authorities to someone’s location by pairing with a user’s smartphone. The commission also approved more than $14,000 to hire a security guard for the election office as part of a $2.43m budget for election contingencies. “With the severe increase in concern for election worker safety, we’re requesting funds for a security guard for our office, as well as panic buttons for Poll Managers,” Tate Fall, the Cobb county election director wrote in a memo [accompanying the request](https://cobbcoga.portal.civicclerk.com/event/847/files/report/12985). Ever since [Donald Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump)’s pressure campaign to overturn the 2020 election, local election officials have faced an increase in scrutiny. Election skeptics have bombarded their offices with public records requests and verbally attacked them at public meetings. Turnover in election offices has been increasing for years, and has reached its highest point in decades, [according to a survey](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB_BPC_Elections_Admin_Turnover_R01.pdf) by the Bipartisan Policy Center from earlier this year. More than half of election officials surveyed by the Brennan Center for Justice this year said they [were concerned](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/local-election-officials-survey-may-2024) about the safety of colleagues and staff. Earlier this year, Georgia became the first state to require police officers in the state to learn election law [as part of their state certification](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/19/georgia-police-election-law-training). An election services company and a security company that have partnered to sell the devices have seen wide interest in them, according to NBC News. They are in discussions to sell at least 1,500 in five states, NBC reported. “We thought maybe 10 or 20 counties would show interest, and it’s been every county or state that we’ve talked to has shown interest in this,” Jeff Ellington, the chief executive of Runbeck Election Services, which is selling the buttons, told NBC.

A rule passed last week, which bipartisan election officials in [Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/state-of-georgia) say will delay the counting of votes in November, was introduced by an election denier who appears to believe in various rightwing conspiracies and whose apparent experience in elections dates only to February. The rule – which requires poll workers to hand-count ballots at polling locations – was passed by an election-denier majority on the Georgia state election board on Friday. It was introduced by Sharlene Alexander, a Donald Trump supporter and member of the Fayette county board of elections, who was appointed to her position in February. Alexander’s Facebook page alludes to a belief in election conspiracies, the Guardian has found. Alexander is one of 12 people – all election deniers – who have introduced more than 30 rules to the state election board since May, according to meeting agendas and summaries reviewed by the Guardian. Of those, the board has approved several, including two that give county election officials more discretion to refuse to certify election results, in addition to Alexander’s hand-count rule. Alexander’s lack of experience in elections underscores the recent phenomena of unelected, inexperienced activists in Georgia’s election-denial movement successfully lobbying the state election board to pass rules favored by conspiracists. Democrats, voting rights advocates and some [Republicans](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/republicans) have said the rules are not just outside the authority of the state election board, but may result in delays in the processing and certification of results. “There is widespread, bipartisan opposition to these anti-voter rule changes and opposition from the local elections officials, as well as experts in the field,” Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of the voting rights group Fair Fight, said in a statement. Groh-Wargo noted that Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state, and bipartisan county election officials from across the state as well as former governors Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes have said the recently passed rules are “destroying confidence” in Georgia’s election systems. Raffensperger and other Georgia election officials have warned that Alexander’s rule and the two certification rules “are going to make counting ballots take longer”. Those delays could be used by Trump and Republicans to call results of the election into question, representatives of Raffensperger’s office have said. Anyone can submit a rule to the state election board, but all but one of the 32 rules submitted since May have come from a small but vocal group of election officials and activists who believe in Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud, including Alexander. The board hadn’t implemented a new rule since 2021, and between September 2022 and May, no rules were introduced. Since then, Alexander and a group of election-denying officials and activists – called “petitioners” in the parlance of the state election board – have introduced 31 rules that will affect millions of Georgia voters. [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/26/georgia-board-of-elections-election-deniers#img-2) Rick Jeffares asks the crowd to settle down in Atlanta on 12 July 2024. Photograph: Arvin Temkar/AP These petitioners include Julie Adams, a member of the Fulton county election board who [also works](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/04/republican-julie-adams-georgia-election-integrity-network) for the rightwing groups Tea Party Patriots and the Election Integrity Network, which is run by prominent national election denier Cleta Mitchell; Michael Heekin, Adams’ Republican colleague on the Fulton county election board, who has refused to certify results this year; David Cross, an election denier who has [pressured the state election board](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/18/trump-election-georgia) since 2020 to take up investigations into unfounded claims of voter fraud; Garland Favorito, head of the election denier group VoterGA; David Hancock of the Gwinnett county election board; Bridget Thorne, a Fulton county commissioner who ran a [secret Telegram channel](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/18/fulton-county-telegram-election-conspiracy-bridget-thorne) in which she discussed election conspiracies; and Lucia Frazier, wife of Jason Frazier, an election denier whom Republicans in Fulton county tried and failed to appoint to the election board there, and who [recently withdrew](https://www.ajc.com/politics/election/activists-withdraw-lawsuit-accusing-fulton-county-of-failing-to-clean-up-voting-rolls/NIP5PVSR3JD7HMDOW2KIMU7W2Q/) a lawsuit claiming the county had allowed ineligible voters to remain on voter rolls. Like many [county election officials in Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/13/trump-big-lie-georgia-election-officials), Alexander makes her beliefs in election and other rightwing conspiracies known on her personal Facebook page. Last week, she posted a claim that 53 counties in Michigan have more registered voters than citizens who are old enough to vote. The claim is part of a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee that seeks to purge voters from Michigan’s voter rolls – one of a slew of lawsuits that Republican groups have filed across the country claiming that voter rolls are bloated with ineligible voters. Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan secretary of state, [has called](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/republican-national-committee-sues-michigan-states-voter-rolls-rcna143250) the lawsuit “meritless” and “filled with baseless accusations”, noting that her office has removed more than 700,000 voters from voter rolls in her tenure. Other posts from Alexander allude to a belief in conspiracies about the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as transphobic sentiment and fear of immigrants. “Vote like your daughters and granddaughters chances to compete in sports and their right to have private spaces to dress and undress in it depends on it. Because it does,” reads a post Alexander shared on 11 August. Alexander did not immediately respond to questions for this story. Under previous iterations of the board, rules introduced by election-denying activists were regularly dismissed, said Sara Tindall Ghazal, the [lone Democrat on the board](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/13/sara-tindall-ghazal-georgia-state-election-board). But that began to change earlier this year, when Republicans in Georgia’s legislature appointed two new members to the board – Janelle King and Rick Jeffares – after pressure from Trump to replace the former board chair, Ed Lindsey, a more moderate Republican who didn’t concede to demands from deniers. Dr Janice Johnston, a [driving force](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/20/janice-johnston-election-denier-georgia-elections-board) behind much of the board’s work on behalf of the election-denial movement, was appointed to her post in 2022. [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/26/georgia-board-of-elections-election-deniers#img-3) Janice Johnston speaks with local elections directors before a state elections board meeting, in Atlanta on 20 September 2024. Photograph: George Chidi/The Guardian Matt Mashburn, a Republican who preceded Lindsey as chair of the state election board, told the Guardian that the board’s new members were in uncharted territory. “The people voting to pass these new rules at this late date don’t seem to have any idea how these new rules are supposed to be implemented and they don’t seem to care,” Mashburn said. Bipartisan election officials across the state have asked the board to stop implementing rules so close to the November election, with the Spalding county attorney calling them “unfunded mandates”. But Trump has lauded the trio of Johnston, King and Jeffares, calling them “pit bulls … fighting for victory” at a rally in Atlanta on 3 August. As the crowd cheered, Johnston stood and waved. Since then, the three – none of whom has previous experience administering elections – have passed several more rules. In August, the board passed a rule that allows county election officials to refuse to certify results if they feel a “reasonable inquiry” is necessary to investigate claims of fraud or irregularities, and another rule that allows local officials to request a virtually unlimited number of election-related documents before certifying results. Those rules were introduced by two election deniers, Adams and Salleigh Grubbs. Adams has sued for more power to refuse to certify results with the help of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute; Grubbs is the chair of the Cobb county Republican party whose involvement in elections stems from Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020. That year, she chased a refuse truck that she believed was carrying shredded paper ballots, [the Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/trump-maga-movement-grassroots-republican-party/678043/) reported. There is no evidence that paper ballots were discarded in that incident, election authorities have said. Both women are members of a behind-the-scenes network of election officials and activists who call themselves the Georgia Election Integrity Coalition, the [Guardian revealed](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/18/trump-election-georgia). The group has coordinated on policies and messaging key to the success of the election-denial movement in the state. Johnston has been in frequent contact with the group’s members, [working with them](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-how-georgia-officials-wrote-rules-deny-election-results-1235089385/) to craft at least one of the certification rules the state election Board recently passed. The movement’s success continued last week when the board passed Alexander’s hand-count rule. The rule requires poll workers to open boxes of ballots collected by machines and count them by hand, increasing the chance that legal chain-of-custody requirements could be violated, according to Raffensperger. Alexander and others in Georgia’s election-denial community believe that the practice of hand-counting ballots will prevent falsified ballots from being scanned into voting machines – a conspiracy theory that bipartisan election officials have said has no basis in fact. This article was amended on 26 September 2024. A previous version incorrectly stated that the Democratic former Georgia governor Roy Barnes was a Republican.

[Election](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-elections-2024) certification is a mandatory duty, not discretionary, for county election officials in [Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/state-of-georgia), a judge ruled on Tuesday, rejecting assertions made by a [Republican](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/republicans) elections official that elections board members could refuse to certify an election based on their suspicions of fraud or error. [Julie Adams](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/04/republican-julie-adams-georgia-election-integrity-network), a Republican member of the Fulton county board of registration and elections, brought the [suit](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/10/georgia-election-board-member-lawsuit-dismissed) earlier this year after abstaining from a vote to certify the May primary election. The [America First Policy Institute](https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-announces-lawsuit-against-georgia-election-process), a legal thinktank that was formed by former [Donald Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump) advisers in the wake of Trump’s 2020 election loss to help lay legal groundwork for his potential return to office, joined the suit. Adams refused certification after claiming she had been denied access to a long list of elections documents. But Robert McBurney, Fulton county superior court judge, ruled that Adams was entitled to review documents quickly, but failing to provide those documents was not grounds for denying the certification of an election. “If election superintendents were, as plaintiff urges, free to play investigator, prosecutor, jury, and judge and so – because of a unilateral determination of error or fraud – refuse to certify election results, [Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/state-of-georgia) voters would be silenced,” wrote McBurney in his ruling. “Our Constitution and our election code do not allow for that to happen.” The law uses the world “shall”, meaning certification is an order, McBurney wrote. “To users of common parlance, ‘shall’ connotes instruction or command: You shall not pass!” he wrote. Adams is the [regional coordinator](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/04/republican-julie-adams-georgia-election-integrity-network) for south-eastern states in the Election Integrity Network (EIN), a national group that has recruited election deniers to target local election offices. EIN was founded by Cleta Mitchell, a Trump ally who aided his efforts to overturn the election in [Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/state-of-georgia) and elsewhere. Adams’s suit aimed to overturn longstanding Georgia precedent that the act of election certification is “ministerial”, an administrative activity marking the end of an election. Elections disputes in Georgia have historically been managed through investigation by local district attorneys, the attorney general’s office and ultimately in court. [skip past newsletter promotion](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/15/georgia-election-certification-denier-republican#EmailSignup-skip-link-9) Sign up to The Stakes — US Election Edition The Guardian guides you through the chaos of a hugely consequential presidential election **Privacy Notice:** Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy). We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. after newsletter promotion A bloc of [Trump-aligned Republicans](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/10/fulton-county-georgia-election-board) on Georgia’s state elections board have rejected that interpretation of the law and implemented changes to election policies allowing for an undefined “reasonable inquiry” by local elections officers before certification. Those changes are under challenge by Democratic leaders in separate court cases.

A Georgia judge [ruled](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/georgia-judge-blocks-rule-requiring-clerks-hand-count-number-ballots-nyt-reports-2024-10-16/) on Tuesday against a new rule passed by the state election board’s pro-Trump majority on the state election board that would have required poll workers to hand-count ballots. Judge Robert McBurney said that as early voting in [Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/state-of-georgia) has already begun, mandatory hand-counting would create chaos and delay the election results. “The administrative chaos that will – not may – ensue is entirely inconsistent with the obligations of our boards of elections (and the State Election Board) to ensure that our elections are fair, legal, and orderly,” the judge wrote in his ruling. The judge did not determine if the new rule was illegal, but paused it pending further review. An appeals court could potentially reverse the decision. The hand-count rule was [introduced](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/26/georgia-board-of-elections-election-deniers) by Sharlene Alexander, a Trump supporter and member of the Fayette county board of elections, who was appointed to the board in February 2024. Alexander is one of 12 election deniers who have introduced more than 30 rules in Georgia to the state election board since May. McBurney also [ruled](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/15/georgia-election-certification-denier-republican) this week that [election certification is a mandatory duty](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/15/georgia-election-certification-denier-republican) for county election officials, not discretionary – rejecting arguments made by a Republican elections official that they could simply refuse to certify an election based on their own suspicion of fraud or error. “If election superintendents were, as plaintiff urges, free to play investigator, prosecutor, jury, and judge and so – because of a unilateral determination of error or fraud – refuse to certify election results, [Georgia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/state-of-georgia) voters would be silenced,” McBurney wrote in the ruling. “Our Constitution and our election code do not allow for that to happen.” The controversial rule changes have been [supported](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/15/georgia-election-certification-denier-republican) by the [America First Policy Institute](https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-announces-lawsuit-against-georgia-election-process), a legal thinktank created by former Trump advisers after his 2020 election loss to push for legal groundwork for his return to office. Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020, helping him secure the presidency, but the state has since become a [hotbed](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2024/oct/03/can-kamala-harris-defeat-trumps-election-lies-in-battleground-georgia) for election deniers and conspiracy theorists. Nineteen people have been [charged](https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-fraud-defendants-201d73d2a6b165d06230961af9f21b61) in Georgia with attempting to overturn the 2020 election results to keep Trump in power. [skip past newsletter promotion](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/16/georgia-election-hand-count-blocked#EmailSignup-skip-link-9) Sign up to The Stakes — US Election Edition The Guardian guides you through the chaos of a hugely consequential presidential election **Privacy Notice:** Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy). We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. after newsletter promotion Trump himself currently faces eight charges for his own role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. The case has been [temporarily paused](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/13/nathan-wade-trump-georgia-trial) pending a review by the Georgia court of appeals of the decision to permit the prosecutor Fani Willis to remain on the case.

 The [2024 voting season](https://apps.npr.org/voter-registration-2024-mail/) is well underway. In addition to covering [the presidential campaigns](https://www.npr.org/sections/elections/), the NPR network is following the races, issues and decisions being made in your community. Control of [state legislatures are up for grabs](https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-25185/who-controls-the-states), ballot issues are [tackling major issues like abortion](https://www.npr.org/2024/05/23/nx-s1-4977323/abortion-law-legal-florida-arizona-amendment), _More from NPR:_ [Three states show how abortion, schools and taxes are at stake in legislature races](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/05/nx-s1-5124638/state-legislature-supermajority-kansas-arizona-minnesota-elections) NPR member stations are gathering information for voters — from how to register down to races in local offices. They offer guides, resources and news reporting from communities across the country to help you be informed for this year's election. _More from NPR_: [Which party controls the legislature in each state?](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/02/nx-s1-5129659/abortion-election-michigan-arizona-minnesota) Scroll through to find your state and the resources available from your local member station. ### Alabama **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Local news** from WBHM in Birmingham](https://wbhm.org/district2) Alaska ------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voting guide** from Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/2024/10/04/how-to-vote-alaska) Arizona ------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Statewide voter guide** from KJZZ](https://www.kjzz.org/arizona-voter-guide) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Statewide news** from Arizona Public Media](https://news.azpm.org/yourvote/) 📍 [**Phoenix-area local news** from KJZZ](https://www.kjzz.org/elections) 📍 [**Flagstaff local news** from KNAU](https://www.knau.org/tags/2024-election) 📍 [**Yuma local news** from KAWC](https://www.kawc.org/elections-2024) Arkansas -------- **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Local news** from Little Rock Public Radio](https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/tags/2024-elections) 📍 [**Local news** from KASU in Northeastern Arkansas](https://www.kasu.org/2024-election-news) California ---------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Statewide voter guide** from KQED](https://www.kqed.org/voterguide) ➡️ [**Chico voter guide** from NSPR](https://www.mynspr.org/elections) ➡️ [**Los Angeles County voter guide** from LAist](https://laist.com/vote) ➡️ [**Orange County voter guide** from LAist](https://laist.com/ocvote) ➡️ [**San Diego voter guide** from KPBS](https://www.kpbs.org/tags/elections) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Bay area local news** from KALW](https://www.kalw.org/2024-elections) 📍 [**Fresno local news** from KVPR](https://www.kvpr.org/government-politics) 📍 [**Mendocino County local news** from KZYX](https://www.kzyx.org/local-news/elections-2024) 📍 [**Sacramento local news** from CapRadio](https://www.capradio.org/news/state-government) 📍 [**San Luis Obispo local news** from KCBX](https://www.kcbx.org/government-and-politics) Colorado -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Colorado Public Radio](https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/14/vg-2024-colorado-voter-guide-to-the-2024-election/) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Aspen local news** from Aspen Public Radio](https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/tags/elections-2024) 📍 [**Denver local news** from Denverite](https://denverite.com/category/denver-news/politics) 📍 [**Greeley area news** from KUNC](https://www.kunc.org/news/2024-election) Connecticut ----------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WSHU](https://www.wshu.org/election-day-2024#polling-places-voter-id) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Statewide news** from Connecticut Public](https://www.ctpublic.org/news/election) Delaware -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Delaware Public Media](https://www.delawarepublic.org/delaware-campaign-2024) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Statewide news** from WHYY](https://whyy.org/elections-2024/#delaware) District of Columbia -------------------- **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Local news** from WAMU](https://wamu.org/series/dc-election-coverage-2024)  **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Jacksonville area voter guides** from JaxToday](https://jaxtoday.org/category/voter-guides/) ➡️ [**Miami area voter guide** from WLRN](https://www.wlrn.org/elections-2024-know-your-federal-state-candidate) ➡️ [**Orlando area voter guide** from Central Florida Public Media](https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/voter-guide-2024) ➡️ [**Tampa area voter guide** from WUSF](https://www.wusf.org/voterguide) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Fort Myers local news** from WGCU](https://news.wgcu.org/tags/election-2024) 📍 [**Gainesville local news** from WUFT](https://www.wuft.org/politics) 📍 [**Pensacola area news** from WUWF](https://www.wuwf.org/local-news) 📍 [**Tallahassee area news** from WFSU](https://news.wfsu.org/tags/2024-elections) Georgia ------- **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Local news** from WABE](https://www.w3schools.com/html/tryit.asp?filename=tryhtml_default) Guam ---- **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Local news** from Isla Public Radio](https://www.islapublic.org/news) Hawai'i ------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Hawai'i Public Radio](https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/2024-hawaii-voter-guide) Idaho ----- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Boise State Public Radio](https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/idaho-election-guide) Illinois -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Guide to state ballot questions** from IPM News](https://ipmnewsroom.org/voters-consider-ballot-questions-on-reproductive-health-tax-reform-election-interference) ➡️ [**Greater Peoria voter guide** from WCBU](https://www.wcbu.org/election-2024-voter-guide) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Statewide news** from NPR Illinois](https://www.nprillinois.org/tags/election-2024) 📍 [**Bloomington-Normal area news** from WGLT](https://www.wglt.org/election-2024) 📍 [**Chicago local news** from WBEZ](https://www.wbez.org/politics) 📍 [**DeKalb area news** from Northern Public Radio](https://www.northernpublicradio.org/election) 📍 [**Macomb area news** from TriState Public Radio](https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news) Indiana ------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voting guide** from IPB news](https://www.lakeshorepublicmedia.org/2024-09-30/what-do-i-need-on-election-day-the-general-election-is-nov-5) ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WFYI](https://www.wfyi.org/2024-voter-guide) ➡️ [**Pittston area voter guide** from WVIA](https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-09-26/voters-guide) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Statewide news** from Indiana Public Media](https://indianapublicmedia.org/election/) 📍 [**Muncie local news** from IPR](https://indianapublicradio.org/news/category/politics/) 📍 [**Fort Wayne local news** from WBOI](https://www.wboi.org/government) Iowa ---- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Iowa Public Radio](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/iowa-election-guide) Kansas ------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Statewide voter guide** from Kansas Public Radio](https://kansaspublicradio.org/live-updates/kansas-election-coverage-2024) ➡️ [**Kansas City voter guide** from KCUR](https://www.kcur.org/kcvoterguide2024/kansas) **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Wichita local news** from KMUW](https://www.kmuw.org/tags/local-news) 📍 [**Pittsburg area news** from KRPS](https://www.krps.org/kansas-new) Kentucky -------- **Local reporting:** 📍 [**Statewide news** from Kentucky Public Radio](https://www.lpm.org/news/kentucky-politics) 📍 [**Murray area news** from WKMS](https://www.wkms.org/government-politics) 📍 [**Bowling Green area news** from WKYU](https://www.wkyufm.org/) 📍 [**Morehead area news** from WMKY](https://www.wmky.org/)  **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WRKF/WWNO](https://www.wrkf.org/2024-09-30/are-you-registered-to-vote-for-november-elections-heres-what-to-know) Maine ----- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Maine Public](https://www.mainepublic.org/tags/your-vote-2024) Maryland -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WEAA](https://www.weaa.org/local-news/2024-10-03/maryland-voting-information-and-ballot-questions-2024) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Baltimore local news** from WYPR](https://www.wypr.org/Election2024) 📍[**Statewide news** from WAMU](https://wamu.org/series/maryland-election-coverage-2024/) Massachussets ------------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WBUR](https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/09/26/voter-guide-massachusetts-boston-presidential-election-harris-trump) ➡️ [**Guide to ballot questions** from GBH](https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2024-10-07/mass-election-2024-everything-you-need-to-know-to-vote#:~:text=Issues%2C%20ballot%20questions%20and%20candidates%20on%20your%20ballot) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Cape Cod news** from WCAI](https://www.capeandislands.org/local-news) 📍[**Western Mass news** from NEPM](https://www.nepm.org/tags/elections) Michigan -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Michigan Radio](https://www.michiganpublic.org/tags/election-2024) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Detroit local news** from WDET](https://wdet.org/tag/elections) 📍[**East Lansing local news** from WKAR](https://www.wkar.org/2024-election#election-news) 📍[**Interlochen local news** from Interlochen Public Radio](https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/tags/2024-election) 📍[**Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County local news** from WEMU](https://www.wemu.org/tags/elections) Minnesota --------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from MPR](https://www.mprnews.org/voterguides/2024) Mississippi ----------- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from Mississippi Public Broadcasting](https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/) 📍[**Jackson local news** from WJSU](https://www.wjsu.org/) Missouri -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Statewide voter guide** from St. Louis Public Radio](https://www.stlpr.org/tags/2024-elections) ➡️ [**Kansas City voter guide** from KCUR](https://www.kcur.org/kcvoterguide2024/missouri) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Springfield local news** from KSMU](https://www.ksmu.org/local-government-section) Montana ------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Montana Public Radio](https://www.mtpr.org/elections) Nebraska -------- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from Nebraska Public Media](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/#latest-stories) Nevada ------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from KNPR](https://knpr.org/2024guide) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Local news** from KUNR](https://www.kunr.org/2024-elections) New Hampshire ------------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from New Hampshire Public Radio](https://www.nhpr.org/tags/elections-2024) New Jersey ---------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WHYY](https://whyy.org/articles/new-jersey-election-2024-voter-guide-deadlines/) New Mexico ---------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from KUNM](https://www.kunm.org/election-2024/2024-07-31/new-mexico-election-faqs) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Local news** from KRWG](https://www.krwg.org/krwg-news-election-center) New York -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Statewide voter guide** from WRVO](https://www.wrvo.org/wrvos-2024-voting-guide) ➡️ [**Long Island voter guide** from WSHU](https://www.wshu.org/election-day-2024#polling-places-voter-id) ➡️ [**Rochester area voter guide** from WXXI](https://www.wxxinews.org/monroe-county-elections-2024) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Buffalo area news** from WBFO](https://www.wbfo.org/) 📍[**New York City local news** from Gothamist](https://gothamist.com/tags/politics/) 📍[**North Country regional news** from NCPR](https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news.php) 📍[**Syracuse area news** from WAER](https://www.waer.org/news) North Carolina -------------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WFAE](https://www.wfae.org/2024votersguide) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Asheville local news** from Blue Ridge Public Radio](https://www.bpr.org/2024-election-hub) 📍[**Chapel Hill local news** from WUNC](https://www.wunc.org/tags/2024-election) 📍[**Charlotte local news** from WFAE](https://www.wfae.org/politics) 📍[**Winston-Salem local news** from WFDD](https://www.wfdd.org/politics-government)  **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from Prairie Public](https://news.prairiepublic.org/election-2024) Ohio ---- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from The Ohio Newsroom](https://www.statenews.org/section/the-ohio-newsroom/2024-10-02/still-need-to-register-to-vote-heres-your-guide-to-being-prepared-at-the-polls) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Cleveland local news** from Ideastream Public Media](https://www.ideastream.org/government-politics) 📍[**Columbus local news** from WOSU](https://www.wosu.org/tags/2024-election) 📍[**Cincinnati local news** from WVXU](https://www.wvxu.org/politics/2024-09-16/election-2024-voter-guide-ohio-kentucky-indiana) Oklahoma -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from KGOU](https://www.kgou.org/politics-and-government/2024-10-01/whos-left-in-the-race-here-are-the-oklahoma-legislative-districts-still-up-for-grabs) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/2024-elections) Oregon ------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from OPB](https://www.opb.org/election-2024) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Southern Oregon news** from Jefferson Public Radio](https://www.ijpr.org/tags/jpr-election-2024) Pennsylvania ------------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WHYY](https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-election-philadelphia-2024-general-voter-guide-deadlines/) ➡️ [**Pittsburgh metro area voter guide** from WESA](https://www.wesa.fm/pa-election-guide-2024) ➡️ [**Pittston area voter guide** from WVIA](https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-09-26/voters-guide) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Harrisburg local news** from WITF](https://www.witf.org/tag/election-2024/) 📍[**University Park local news** from WPSU](https://radio.wpsu.org/tags/2024-election) Rhode Island ------------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from The Public's Radio](https://thepublicsradio.org/2024elections/) South Carolina -------------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from South Carolina Public Radio](https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2024-10-01/are-you-registered-to-vote-in-sc) South Dakota ------------ **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from South Dakota Public Broadcasting](https://www.sdpb.org/meet-the-candidates-interactive-south-dakota-legislative-map) Tennessee --------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WPLN](https://wpln.org/post/tennessees-voter-registration-deadline-is-coming-up-heres-what-to-know/) Texas ----- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from KERA](https://www.keranews.org/elections-2024/2024-10-07/your-november-2024-voting-guide-for-north-texas) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Austin local news** from KUT](https://www.kut.org/tags/2024-elections) 📍[**Dallas local news** from KERA](https://www.keranews.org/elections-2024) 📍[**Houston local news** from Houston Public Media](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/tag/election-2024/) 📍[**Marfa local news** from Marfa Public Radio](https://www.marfapublicradio.org/2024-elections) 📍[**San Antonio local news** from TPR](https://www.tpr.org/tags/2024-election) Virgin Islands -------------- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Local news** from WTJX](https://newsfeed.wtjx.org/) Utah ---- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from Utah Public Radio](https://www.upr.org/tags/2024-elections) 📍[**Park City local news** from KPCW](https://www.kpcw.org/tags/elections-2024) 📍[**Salt Lake City local news** from KUER](https://www.kuer.org/tags/elections-2024) Vermont ------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from Vermont Public](https://www.vermontpublic.org/election-2024) Virginia -------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from VPM](https://www.vpm.org/news/2023-10-09/virginia-voter-guide-how-to-vote-register-ballot) ➡️ [**Hampton Roads area voter guide** from WHRO](https://www.whro.org/voterguide2024) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Northern Virginia news** from WAMU](https://wamu.org/series/virginia-election-coverage-2024/) Washington ---------- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from KNKX](https://www.knkx.org/election2024) 📍[**Seattle local news** from KUOW](https://www.kuow.org/series/elections) 📍[**Pullman local news** from Northwest Public Broadcasting](https://www.nwpb.org/electionscoverage/) 📍[**Spokane local news** from Spokane Public Radio](https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/) West Virginia ------------- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from West Virginia Public Broadcasting](https://wvpublic.org/tag/2024-election/) Wisconsin --------- **Voting resources:** ➡️ [**Voter guide** from WUWM](https://www.wuwm.com/voterguide) ➡️ [**Candidate guide** from Wisconsin Public Radio](https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-candidate-election-president-senate-congress) **Local reporting:** 📍[**Rhinelander local news** from WXPR](https://www.wxpr.org/tags/election-2024) Wyoming ------- **Local reporting:** 📍[**Statewide news** from Wyoming Public Media](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/tags/2024-elections) For more legislative coverage, [check out NPR's **Who controls the states?** series.](https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-25185/who-controls-the-states)

Organizations that track election polls, [including The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/elections/polls-president.html), currently show Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump [in a dead heat](https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/general/2024/trump-vs-harris). Election forecasters like [FiveThirtyEight](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2024-election-forecast/), which consider the polls and other data to calculate the candidates’ odds of victory, also see the race as essentially tied. Another set of websites has a different take. [Prediction markets](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/15/business/dealbook/prediction-markets-trump-harris.html), which allow users to bet real money on election results — more than $100 million on one site alone — are much more bullish on Mr. Trump. [These markets are drawing attention](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/technology/polymarket-election-betting-crypto-trump.html), but are they more accurate than the polls, as proponents claim? Do the markets know something that the polls don’t? Researchers have tried to answer this question over the last few election cycles, though the results have been mixed. Advocates and skeptics agree that there are pros and cons to markets when compared with poll-based forecasts. Markets can sometimes be just as accurate in predicting election outcomes — but there are also good reasons not to take them at face value. Note: Data as of 1 p.m. Eastern Thursday. Markets show price per share for predictions that a candidate will win. Forecasters show candidates’ probabilities of winning. By The New York Times Polls and prediction markets could hardly be more different. Polls attempt to measure what actual voters think by asking a group of them, a sample, how they plan to vote. Polls don’t assign a probability to a candidate’s likelihood of winning — they’re snapshots in time, representing the share of people supporting a candidate at that moment. At their best, [polls can be quite accurate](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/17/us/politics/national-polls-election-results.html), but they are also subject [to error](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/us/elections/poll-problems-margin-of-error.html) and are best understood in aggregate. Election forecasts — like the ones published by FiveThirtyEight, [The Economist](https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-2024-election/prediction-model/president), [The Hill](https://elections2024.thehill.com/forecast/2024/president/) and [election analyst Nate Silver](https://www.natesilver.net/p/nate-silver-2024-president-election-polls-model) — use the polls and other data such as economic indicators and historical trends to project the likely winner of the election, and the probability that each candidate will win. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F10%2F25%2Fus%2Felections%2Fprediction-markets-election-polls.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F10%2F25%2Fus%2Felections%2Fprediction-markets-election-polls.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F10%2F25%2Fus%2Felections%2Fprediction-markets-election-polls.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F10%2F25%2Fus%2Felections%2Fprediction-markets-election-polls.html).

You can now trade a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump contract on the trading platform Robinhood ([HOOD+3.20%](https://qz.com/quote/HOOD)). With just a week remaining before the election, [this program](https://newsroom.aboutrobinhood.com/introducing-the-presidential-election-market/), which launched on Monday, enables users to bet on which candidate they believe will win, adding a new way to engage with the political process through the platform. Robinhood’s decision to launch this feature follows a recent legal development involving Kalshi, another trading platform, that [won a crucial ruling against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)](https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-federal-court-upholds-ruling-letting-kalshiex-list-election-betting-contracts-2024-10-02/), which had attempted to halt trading on election outcome contracts. This legal victory paved the way for Robinhood to introduce its own election-focused trading option, reflecting a growing trend of financial platforms entering the realm of political event-based markets. To trade these election outcome contracts, users must be U.S. citizens and obtain approval on the Robinhood platform. Once approved, they can place trades based on their predictions for the 2024 presidential election, choosing between two available contracts — one for Kamala Harris and one for Donald Trump. The trading is facilitated through Robinhood’s Derivatives unit in partnership with ForecastEx, offering a unique opportunity for users to engage with the election through financial speculation. This move marks Robinhood’s expansion into event-driven markets, allowing users to bet on political outcomes alongside traditional investments. “We believe event contracts give people a tool to engage in real-time decision-making, unlocking a new asset class that democratizes access to events as they unfold,” [Robinhood said in a statement.](https://newsroom.aboutrobinhood.com/introducing-the-presidential-election-market/) On the betting platform Polymarket, users are placing bets on [Donald Trump as the likely winner of the presidential election](https://polymarket.com/event/presidential-election-winner-2024), while [Kamala Harris is leading as the predicted popular vote winner](https://polymarket.com/event/presidential-election-popular-vote-winner-2024). While the odds on gambling platforms do not always reflect trends, they provide insight into how some investors position their bets on the candidates, showcasing sentiment and speculation in the lead-up to the election.

Oct 30, 2024 11:31 AM From bulletproof glass, drones, and snipers to boulders blocking election offices, the US democratic system is bracing for violent attacks in 2024.  Drones, snipers, razor wire, [sniffer dogs](https://www.wired.com/story/the-science-of-the-sniff-why-dogs-are-great-disease-detectors/), body armor, bulletproof glass, and 24-hour armed security. This is not a list of protections in place for a visit by the president of the United States nor the contents of [a shipment to frontline troops fighting in Ukraine](https://www.wired.com/story/nafo-ukraine-russia-war/). This is a list of the security measures election officials in counties across the US have had to implement ahead of Tuesday’s vote as a result of the [unprecedented threats they have faced](https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-election-denial-violent-attacks/) in recent years. Officials are putting in place the typical final measures to ensure the smooth operation of an election, but beyond checking that they have enough ballots and that machines are working properly, officials are now faced with having to monitor for threats and make sure they have done everything they can to protect themselves and their staff. “Given the current political environment, the possibility that an event may occur has increased, and our election professionals have responded in kind,” says Tammy Patrick, a former election official in Arizona’s Maricopa County who is now a senior adviser at the nonprofit Bolstering Elections Initiative. “Efforts focusing on the physical security of the voters, election workers, and staff by putting in bulletproof glass, panic buttons, razor wire, and fencing are fairly common, as is the installation of surveillance cameras and systems, cyber protections, and training on de-escalation techniques and response drills.” Nowhere in the US is the militarization of the election process more evident than in Maricopa County. The fourth largest county in the nation, Maricopa became ground zero for election denial conspiracists in recent years, after GOP lawmakers sanctioned a bogus recount in 2021, run by the Florida company Cyber Ninjas. As a result, the county has for years been putting increased security measures in place. “We're a fortress now,” Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County Recorder, told WIRED back in February, outlining how he had to navigate security fencing, metal detectors, and security checks in order to get into his office. As the 2024 election approaches, the measures Maricopa officials are putting in place have been ratcheted up significantly. Officials have added a second layer of security fencing to protect election offices, as well as [concrete k-rails](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/17/nx-s1-5116481/why-voting-security-in-arizonas-largest-jurisdiction-is-more-intense-in-2024), which means election workers will be bused in from offsite locations due to reduced parking spaces. At the country’s tabulation center, every door will be fitted with metal detectors, floodlights will be installed, and on election day the center will be protected by a ring of snipers deployed on roofs around the building, election officials told [NBC](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/election-officials-security-threats-poll-workers-voters-rcna176087). There will also be mounted police on standby outside the building, round-the-clock armed security, and drones in flight over the building, monitoring for approaching threats. The entire election office building is also covered in security cameras that livestream everything online for anyone to watch, a security measure that doubles as a way of offering transparency into its election process. “The security and safety of our elections and those that help conduct them are paramount in ensuring a smooth election process,” Taylor Kinnerup, communications director for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, tells WIRED. “Since January of 2021, our office has increased badge security access, installed permanent barriers, and added additional cybersecurity measures based on the recommendations of law enforcement and other experts.” The threats against election workers spiked in the wake of the 2020 election, spurred on by Donald Trump’s baseless allegations that the election was stolen. While the threats receded somewhat in between election cycles, they have picked up again in recent months. WIRED revealed earlier this month that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a [series](https://www.wired.com/story/insider-threats-election/) [of](https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-election-denial-violent-attacks/) [reports](https://www.wired.com/story/extremists-civil-war-dhs/) to government agencies warning about the “heightened risk” of right-wing extremists carrying out attacks around the election. Just last week, the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force [announced charges](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-four-cases-brought-election-threats-task-force) against four men for threats they made against election officials. “The fact that election workers need to be worried about their security is incomprehensible and unacceptable,” FBI director Chris Wray said in a statement about the threats. Some of the charges relate to threats made back in 2022; as a result, election officials have been preparing for years for next week’s vote. Since the beginning of last year, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has conducted over 1,000 voluntary physical security assessments at election offices. One of these assessments was conducted in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County in late August, with officials from CISA and Homeland Security recommending that barriers be installed to prevent cars from ramming into the ground floor of the building housing the county’s election offices in Wilkes Barre. “This is a measure taken to safeguard staff, the public, and the ballots,” Luzerne County manager Romilda Crocamo [told local TV station WVIA](https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-10-01/luzerne-county-installs-boulders-around-penn-place-building-as-election-security-move) earlier this month as workers installed boulders along the front of the building. Crocamo also said the county had decided against using drop boxes because they could not adequately protect them. This week, multiple drop boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, [were set on fire](https://apnews.com/article/vote-ballot-drop-box-democracy-fire-f66c52f774955106fb9e7c8172825cff) in incidents police say were linked. In addition to protecting the buildings where election staff work, some high-profile election officials have had to protect themselves. Arizona secretary of state Adrian Fontes, the top election official in his state, [revealed on Monday](https://tucson.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/arizona-election-2024-release-list-voters-citizenship-proof-evidence-court-testimony/article_22a6c8d4-9545-11ef-88fd-dfc06f516a0b.html) that he regularly wears a bulletproof vest after a series of threats were posted online and included his home address. In Adams County, Colorado, the county clerk and recorder Josh Zygielbaum has also been advised by local police to wear body armor after someone followed him home after a recent local election. Zygielbaum [recently told USA Today](https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/20/election-workers-under-attack-safety/75283506007/) that he has taken the advice and now wears one every day. He [has previously used militaristic phrases](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-election-official-says-he-wears-body-armor-everyday-and-has-been-followed-home-in-chilling-abc-report/) like “harden the office as a target” to describe his efforts to beef up security, which has included the installation of panic buttons under every desk Tate Fall, Cobb County, Georgia’s election director, has [also installed panic buttons](https://apnews.com/article/election-workers-2024-threats-security-police-trump-kamala-biden-steal-c4f27414a5a90b67983b0349a370dd13) that link directly to emergency services after a poll worker reported an agitated voter during this year’s presidential primary who was carrying a gun. In some cases, new election offices have been built since the last election, including ones in California’s Los Angeles County and Durham County, North Carolina. These have been built with security in mind and [feature](https://apnews.com/article/election-workers-2024-threats-security-police-trump-kamala-biden-steal-c4f27414a5a90b67983b0349a370dd13) bulletproof glass, security cameras, and doors that will open only with the right credentials. In Los Angeles County, they are also deploying trained sniffer dogs to screen all the mail coming into election offices after a surge in letters sent to officials containing white powder, several of which have tested positive for fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can be deadly even in small doses. As a result, most election offices across the country have Narcan kits on hand, and officials have been trained on how to administer the drug in the case of an accidental opioid overdose. Taking things a step further, in Durham County’s new election office, they have constructed a dedicated mail-sorting room that features a separate exhaust system to prevent potentially hazardous substances contaminating the rest of the office. “Election workers now need to be experts in security, cybersecurity, public health, and public relations, while handling drastically more information requests and recounts,” Adam Hinds, former Massachusetts state senator and current CEO of the nonprofit Edward M. Kennedy Institute, tells WIRED. “One problem is they are already stretched in terms of funding and resources. As election administration receives more attention, our election workers deserve the resources necessary.”

 The turbulent 2024 campaign has reached its end. Tens of millions of voters have [already cast general election ballots](https://election.lab.ufl.edu/early-vote/2024-early-voting/), and millions more will do the same on Tuesday’s Election Day, before polls close and the reporting of results begins. Here are some things to keep in mind throughout Election Day and beyond: **First ... do you still** [**need to vote**](https://www.npr.org/2019/10/18/771360559/how-to-vote-in-an-election)**?** More than 20 states offer [same-day voter registration](https://apps.npr.org/voter-registration-2024-mail/) on Election Day. You can double-check [your polling place](https://www.nass.org/can-i-vote/find-your-polling-place) and any [identification requirements](https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id) before heading out to cast a ballot. **You may still have time to fix mail ballot errors.** Almost all states [offer online ballot tracking](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/30/nx-s1-5170285/voting-2024-ballots-states-online-tracking), and for voters who are alerted to issues with their mail ballots, [many states allow voters to fix those errors](https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_curing_rules_by_state,_2024) beyond Election Day. **Be mindful of rumors and baseless claims.** It’s a charged political atmosphere, and rumors about election malfeasance and [fake videos](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/01/nx-s1-5170334/russia-propaganda-georgia-video) can take off online before [trusted sources](https://www.nass.org/initiatives/trustedinfo) have a chance to correct the record. Here are [some tips to avoid sharing election misinformation](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/16/nx-s1-5048818/how-to-stop-spreading-misinformation-2024-election). Remember also that elections are run by humans — many of whom are volunteers — and humans sometimes make mistakes, especially when they’re [under pressure and scrutiny](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/09/1242811437/election-voting-officials-threats-turnover). Every Election Day, there are isolated issues at polling places; they likely don’t mean anything nefarious is going on. **Campaigns are focused on seven swing states.** Polling averages have shown a dead heat in the seven states that are likely to decide the presidential election. Here are the _final_ poll closing times for those states, in chronological order: * 7 p.m. ET – Georgia * 7:30 p.m. ET – North Carolina * 8 p.m. ET – Pennsylvania * 9 p.m. ET – Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin * 10 p.m. ET – Nevada For all poll closing times, [head here](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/04/g-s1-32076/election-day-polls-closing-times). Also remember that while Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump battle for the top of the ticket, there are [independent and third-party presidential candidates on the ballot](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/25/nx-s1-5111891/independent-third-party-candidates-swing-state-ballots) in these seven swing states whose tallies could affect the outcomes. **As results start coming in, patience is needed.** It takes a while to accurately count millions of ballots with many contests on each. Election officials will always stress that the results that are reported on election night are unofficial, and that it is media organizations who are calling races. NPR [relies on The Associated Press for race calls](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/31/1211597294/politics-how-does-the-associated-press-discern-who-wins), and the AP has a long track record of accuracy. Here’s more on [how the AP makes those decisions](https://www.ap.org/elections/our-role/how-we-call-races/). The single biggest factor in a race call is how close a contest is. **A candidate who appears to be “leading” can be overtaken by another candidate.** A number of factors affect how quickly votes can be tallied. Mail ballots, for instance, come in envelopes that need to be opened, and have signatures or other identifying information to verify. Some [states](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/04/nx-s1-5178029/mail-in-absentee-ballots-counted), including the swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, don’t allow these mail ballots to be [preprocessed](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/ballot-pre-processing-explained/) for tabulation until Election Day, further slowing down counting. And Arizona’s massive Maricopa County is expecting hundreds of thousands of [mail ballots to be dropped off by voters on Election Day](https://www.kjzz.org/elections/2024-10-03/it-could-take-2-weeks-to-know-election-results-in-arizona-officials-say-thats-normal). Since there are partisan divides in [voter methods](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/03/nx-s1-5130284/election-concerns-voter-fraud-trump-harris-poll) and the geographic locations those votes come from, results will shift. Of course, all votes are of equal value; some just get added to the overall tally later. The terms “blue shift” and “red mirage” really entered the lexicon in 2020. Those describe a phenomenon that played out on the Electoral College map — when mail ballots, cast primarily by Democratic voters, were added to tallies in places like Pennsylvania, eroding an early Republican advantage in the presidential election (and becoming a key source of misinformation from Trump). There have been fewer requests for mail ballots this year, compared with the pandemic election of 2020, so many experts think these partisan shifts will be less pronounced. The nonprofit Protect Democracy [released a useful report](https://protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Vote-Count-Expectations-2024.pdf) with its vote count expectations for each of the seven top swing states. The group cited earlier mail ballot deadlines and expanded preprocessing in certain places as other reasons why results may be faster in 2024. But again, the closeness of a race is the real determining factor in how long it takes to find out who wins. **Just because a candidate declares victory doesn’t mean they won.** In 2020, Trump came out on election night and, citing baseless claims of fraud, said, “Frankly, we did win this election.” Trump has not committed to accepting the results of the 2024 race either. Already, there’s been a [surge of litigation](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/26/nx-s1-5111886/pennsylvania-mail-in-ballot-lawsuit-2024-election) around voting rules, with many experts seeing lawsuits from Trump’s Republican allies as setting the groundwork for potential election challenges. **Elections aren’t done yet.** Again, the results reported on election night are unofficial. Election officials will verify and finalize those tallies before certification. For the presidential race, [the Electoral College process](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/31/nx-s1-5161596/electoral-college-count-reform-deadlines) has several steps leading to Inauguration Day. And what about recounts? Each state [has its own rules](https://ballotpedia.org/Election_recount_laws_and_procedures_in_the_50_states) — and Arizona, for instance, has [raised its threshold for automatic recounts](https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/11/02/new-arizona-law-more-recounts) from 0.1% to 0.5% for statewide contests. (For context, in 2020, Trump lost Arizona by 0.3%.) Recounts are very rare, though, and [it’s rarer still for recounts to reverse an outcome](https://fairvote.org/report/election-recounts-2022/).

 Election Day 2024 is finally here. Voting ends Tuesday in what's been a monthslong, wild campaign. The presidential race between Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump is still [extremely close](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/23/nx-s1-5160077/these-are-the-2-paths-either-trump-or-harris-has-to-follow-to-become-president) and is likely to be decided by [small slices of voters](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/03/nx-s1-5175772/2024-election-voters-demographics-trump-harris) in a [handful of swing states](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/27/nx-s1-5164527/swing-state-counties-election-harris-trump). Tune in to NPR's live special election coverage for presidential electoral vote count updates, as well as AP race calls on key congressional and [state contests](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/02/nx-s1-5129659/abortion-election-michigan-arizona-minnesota) and ballot measures on issues like [abortion rights](https://www.npr.org/2024/05/23/nx-s1-4977323/abortion-law-legal-florida-arizona-amendment) and voting. Live coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 5 as polls begin to close, and stay with us throughout the night as results come in. Here are ways to listen: 2024 election coverage will continue on _Morning Edition_ on Wednesday. _Follow_ [_NPR's election live blog_](https://www.npr.org/live-updates/trump-harris-2024-election-results) _for results, context, analysis and color from across the country — and make sure to subscribe to_ [_The NPR Politics Podcast_](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast) _and_ [_NPR Politics newsletter_](https://www.npr.org/newsletter/politics) _to stay updated._

Nov 5, 2024 10:27 AM The night before the election, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, a former TV anchor turned election truther, thanked her supporters for voting early—something she has long railed against.  Kari Lake meets with fans during her rally in Prescott, AZ.Photograph: Jamie Lee Taete Prescott, AZ — Kari Lake stood on the steps of the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott the night before the [US election](https://www.wired.com/live/us-election-2024-live-coverage/) on a bitterly cold Monday. She was addressing a couple hundred of her supporters, many of them wearing her [MAKE ARIZONA GRAND AGAIN](https://www.wired.com/story/2024-us-election-photos/) baseball hats. After walking onstage to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out For a Hero,” Lake asked for a show of hands from people who were going to vote on Election Day. No one put up their hands, as attendees looked away from the stage and shifted anxiously in place. Lake, laughingly nervously, quickly switched gears and said: “You got the word to vote early. Great.” Lake, a Republican running against Democrat Ruben Gallego for a Senate seat soon to be vacated by Kyrsten Sinema, became known as one of the most vocal boosters of the election denial in the wake of the 2020 election. She has built an entire political personality on the back of promoting debunked [election conspiracy theories](https://www.wired.com/story/election-fraud-conspiracies-flooding-social-media/): After quitting a 22-year-long career as an anchor at Fox 10 in Phoenix, Lake announced her candidacy for governor of Arizona in 2021 and based much of her campaign on election denial. This year, Lake has also pushed conspiracy theories about mail-in ballots and early voting, [demanding a single day of in-person voting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/29/kari-lake-voting/). Her support for early and mail-in voting on the eve of the election echoes the flip-flopping from former [president Donald Trump](https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/13/politics/trump-mail-in-voting/index.html), who has also realized that without early and mail-in voting he does not have a chance to win. Lake may have changed her mind on the veracity of mail-in ballots, but she remains convinced that the [election will be stolen](https://www.wired.com/story/election-deniers-weekend-activity-fraud-claims/). The only solution? “We’re going to make it too big to rig,” Lake told her supporters. Throughout her Senate campaign, Lake has [repeatedly](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/kari-lake-refuses-to-commit-to-certifying-election-results-ahead-of-arizona-senate-debate-221325893913) [refused](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/election-denialism-arizona-kari-lake/680512/) to answer a simple question: Would she be willing to accept the results of the election? [Polling](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/final-polls-lake-vs-gallego-arizona-us-senate-race/76049272007/) suggests that Lake could be about to face another loss, and based on her remarks throughout the campaign, it is unlikely that Lake, who will still [not concede she lost in 2022](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/28/politics/kari-lake-2022-election-cnntv/index.html), will be willing to graciously concede. Ultimately, Lake took her challenge to court, and lost again. Undeterred, Lake continued to ingratiate herself with Trump and MAGA, and was even considered as a possible vice presidential candidate. Now, Lake has claimed it would be foolish to commit to accepting election results without knowing what those results are. Many of her supporters who spoke to WIRED on Monday night agreed with Lake, convinced there was fraud afoot in the election already. “I don’t think we should accept anything until we know that the election is an honest election. We know the last one was rigged and the 2020 one was rigged,” Sandy, a Lake supporter from Prescott Valley, tells WIRED. But there were also some supporters who urged their candidate to do the right thing and concede if she was defeated. “We’ve got no choice, we’ve got to accept the results,” says Rick Starmer, from Chino Valley in Yavapai County. _You can follow all of [WIRED's 2024 presidential election coverage here](https://www.wired.com/2024-us-election/)._

* Supporters of Donald Trump react to news that he won the state of Georgia Photograph: Nathan Howard/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-1) * Supporters sit in the bleachers as people leave a watch party for Kamala Harris after it was announced that she would not speak, on the campus of Howard university Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-2) * People react to election results showing Donald Trump’s lead, during a Republican watch party at the Ahern hotel Photograph: Caroline Brehman/EPA  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-3) * People watch election returns at a bar in New York Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-4) * A supporter reacts during a Republican watch party at The Ingleside hotel Photograph: Vincent Alban/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-5) * Attendees leave Kamala Harris’ election night watch party at Howard University Photograph: Terrance Williams/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-6) * People check results in the US presidential election at a watch party in the Mission District Photograph: Loren Elliott/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-7) * Members of the Shaw University marching band perform at the Democratic election night watch party Photograph: Jonathan Drake/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-8) * A supporter of Donald Trump reacts during a watch party Photograph: Eloisa Lopez/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-9) * People applaud the announcement of an electoral vote for Donald Trump Photograph: Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-10) * Attendees wait for election results during the Democratic party’s watch party at the Hilton Phoenix Resort Photograph: Rebecca Noble/AFP/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-11) * An attendee reacts to early election results at Howard University Photograph: Kevin Mohatt/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-12) * Senator Ted Cruz speaks during a watch party on election night Photograph: LM Otero/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-13) * Democratic Maryland senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks cheers with her daughter during an election night watch party in College Park Photograph: Jess Rapfogel/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-14) * Supporters react while watching returns come in during an election night watch party in West Palm Beach Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-15) * Logan Bodendorfer, two, of Omaha, plays with decorations as Democratic supporters gather Photograph: Scott Morgan/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-16) * People react to early voting results during a watch party at the New York Young Republican Club watch party in Manhattan Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-17) * An election worker unveils early voting results at Fulton County Operations Hub and Elections Center in Fairburn Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-18) * A showgirl attends a voting party at Las Vegas city hall Photograph: Caroline Brehman/EPA  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-19) * Women with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sit together ahead of an election night event held by Kamala Harris at Howard University Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-20) * Supporters wait at an election night campaign watch party for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in West Palm Beach Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-21) * Electoral workers count votes into the night in Milwaukee Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-22) * Poll workers process ballots at city hall in Janesville Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-23) * Kamala Harris drops by a phone bank event at the Democratic National Committee headquarters Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-24) * Members of the media work ahead of an election night campaign watch party for Kamala Harris on the campus of Howard University Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-25) * Women pose with a cardboard cutout of Kamala Harris at the Democrats Abroad US election event Photograph: Yui Mok/PA  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-26) * Voters fill out their ballots at a voting center at Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-27) * A woman casts her ballot on election day at a polling station inside the Su Nueva laundromat in Chicago Photograph: Kamil Krzaczyński/AFP/Getty Images  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-28) * People cast their ballots at the Galleria at Sunset Photograph: Caroline Brehman/EPA  [](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2024/nov/06/us-election-night-2024-photos#img-29)

[Kamala Harris](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/kamala-harris) delivered a speech conceding defeat in the presidential election to [Donald Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump) on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, she called Trump to [congratulate him](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/nov/06/us-presidential-election-2024-donald-trump-kamala-harris-latest-news-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-672bb7be8f082be82baf0dc9#block-672bb7be8f082be82baf0dc9) on his electoral victory. Here’s what to know. Continuing a longstanding US tradition, Harris called Trump to congratulate him on recapturing the White House. Joe Biden also [issued congratulations](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/nov/06/us-presidential-election-2024-donald-trump-kamala-harris-latest-news-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-672bc8298f08040dded3966e#block-672bc8298f08040dded3966e) and “expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition”, according to the White House. Harris appeared at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington DC to deliver a concession speech on Wednesday. On election night, supporters [gathered on the historic campus](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/05/election-howard-university-harris) were [in a celebratory mood](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/06/kamala-harris-presidential-election-day) earlier in the evening, but as the likelihood of a Democratic victory dimmed, the mood grew somber. Harris was scheduled to address the crowd on election night, but did not appear. Instead, the campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond took the stage to address supporters. The mood during her speech on Wednesday was calm and sober, with some Harris supporters saying they [need time to recover](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/06/harris-election-concession-speech) from Trump’s win before contemplating next steps after the election. Harris also launched her unsuccessful 2020 campaign for the Democratic nomination at Howard and used the campus to prepare for her August debate against Trump. In 2016, Hilary Clinton gave a [concession speech](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/09/hillary-clinton-concedes-election-donald-trump-speech) on Wednesday morning. “Donald Trump is going to be our president,” she said in Manhattan. “We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.” In both 2012 and 2008, the election was called for Barack Obama before midnight. In 2020, Trump [refused to concede](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/09/donald-trump-concession-election-defeat-campaign) the US election to Joe Biden. He has not admitted publicly that he lost. How to watch Harris’s concession speech --------------------------------------- The Guardian [covered the speech](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/nov/06/us-presidential-election-2024-donald-trump-kamala-harris-latest-news-updates) as it happened. [A replay is now available](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2024/nov/06/do-not-despair-kamala-harris-delivers-concession-speech-watch-in-full). [skip past newsletter promotion](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/06/harris-concession-speech-watch#EmailSignup-skip-link-16) Sign up to The Stakes — Presidential Transition We will guide you through the aftermath of the US election and the transition to a Trump presidency **Privacy Notice:** Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy). We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. after newsletter promotion What to know about Trump’s victory speech ----------------------------------------- Appearing with his family, close aides and his running mate, JD Vance, before supporters in Florida on election night, Trump called his victory the “greatest political movement of all time”. “There’s never been anything like this in this country and now it’s going to reach a new level of importance, because we’re going to help our country heal,” [Trump said](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/06/donald-trump-wins-us-presidential-election). “We’re going to fix our borders. We’re going to fix everything about our country … I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve, this will truly be the golden age of America.” What happens next? ------------------ Harris will preside over a joint session of Congress in January to certify the results of the election. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US president on 20 January 2025. **Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage**

 _This piece originally appeared as part of NPR's live coverage of the 2024 election. For more election coverage from the NPR Network head to_ [_our live updates page_](http://www.npr.org/live-updates/trump-harris-2024-election-results)_._ Measures appeared on the ballot in 41 states and focused on issues ranging from abortion access, to noncitizen voting and marijuana legalization, to legalization of some psychedelics. [**More: Full state-by-state results**](https://apps.npr.org/2024-election-results/) Here's where things stand. Abortion -------- There were 11 abortion-related ballot measures this election, a record for a single year, including: Here's [a full breakdown](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/06/g-s1-32962/abortion-rights-amendments-2024-election) on where abortion issues ended up. Marijuana legalization ---------------------- Four states voted on marijuana legalization, including for recreational use in Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota. Same-Sex Marriage ----------------- Same-sex marriages became legal nationwide in 2015, but with the overturning of _Roe v. Wade_, there are concerns that something similar could happen to the legality of same-sex unions. Three states voted to protect same-sex marriage at the state level. Psychedelic legalization ------------------------ * **Massachusetts:** [A measure](https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/09/20/massachusetts-election-psychedelic-mushrooms-ballot-question-4-explainer) would have allowed people 21 and older to consume psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms at licensed therapy centers, as well as grow small amounts at home, [was rejected by voters](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/06/g-s1-33105/massachusetts-legalize-psychedelic-drugs). Minimum wage ------------ Voters in two red states approved ballot measures to raise the minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick time to their workers. Immigration ----------- * **Arizona**: voters passed a Republican-backed plan to give state and local law enforcement the [power to enforce immigration laws](https://www.kjzz.org/kjzz-news/2024-08-13/prop-314-border-security-measure-will-be-on-arizona-ballot-judge-rules), over the objections of Democrats and Latino advocacy groups who warn the law will lead to racial profiling.

 Donald Trump's 2024 election victory is fueling claims of fraud on both sides of the political divide. His right-wing supporters claim the outcome vindicates their [debunked claims](https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-20-million-missing-votes-election-2024-5c92a9b2530232fc8ac80968a1362518) that the 2020 election was stolen from him. To a smaller degree, those on the left are circulating their own baseless claims casting doubt on this year's results. The election denial movement [Trump inspired](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/05/nx-s1-5179073/trump-and-allies-have-primed-supporters-to-falsely-believe-he-has-no-chance-of-losing) has spent the past four years building an infrastructure and community around false claims that 2020 was rigged. This year, it invested heavily in raising similar [alarms](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/31/nx-s1-5165523/voting-election-conspiracy-theories-social-media) that voting would again be compromised — only for those claims to [evaporate](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/06/voter-fraud-trump/) as returns came in. The narrative twist emerging in the wake of Election Day shows how the movement is continuing to [sow doubt](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/03/nx-s1-5130284/election-concerns-voter-fraud-trump-harris-poll) about the voting process even after their preferred candidate won. The new claims center on comparing popular vote totals in 2020 and 2024: Four years ago, Joe Biden received around [81 million votes](https://www.cookpolitical.com/vote-tracker/2020/electoral-college); as of Friday afternoon Harris's total stood at 69 million, according to the [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/). Election deniers have framed the difference as "missing" Democratic ballots that validate their suspicions about cheating in 2020. Some recirculated [disproven theories](https://www.reuters.com/article/world/fact-check-vote-spikes-in-wisconsin-michigan-and-pennsylvania-do-not-prove-ele-idUSKBN27Q304/) about late-night ballot "dumps" that resulted in states that had early leads for Trump in 2020 [shift to Biden](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/06/nx-s1-5141959/electoral-college-map-what-is-blue-shift-red-mirage) as more votes were counted. There are a couple straightforward reasons for the gap between Harris's and Biden's totals. First of all, votes are still being tallied, including in the most populous state, California. "Most people just don't really understand how election administration and the tabulation of election results actually works in this country," said Kathy Boockvar, who oversaw elections in 2020 in Pennsylvania as its secretary of the commonwealth. "And that of course leads, unfortunately, to susceptibility to conspiracy theories and false information." The process of certifying votes varies from state to state. In many cases it takes weeks to complete, as officials process overseas and military ballots, review provisional ballots, and conduct audits. Jennifer Morrell, a former elections official who now runs the advisory firm the Elections Group, says when considering claims about "missing" ballots, it's important "to recognize that there are these checks and balances and audits and tests that happen throughout the election." Numerous [investigations](https://lostnotstolen.org/) and audits, often [led](https://www.npr.org/2021/09/25/1040672550/az-audit) by [Republicans](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-election-2020-elections-government-and-politics-4b6643aa699480dc63cbce8555aac946), were conducted after the 2020 election and no evidence of widespread fraud was discovered. Those [checks](https://verifiedvoting.org/publication/recounts-audits-2024-verified-voting/) will continue for the 2024 election over the coming weeks. [Turnout](https://www.electproject.org/election-data/voter-turnout-data) also varies from election to election. In 2020, [160 million people](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/05/g-s1-32691/turnout-reached-record-highs-in-2020-and-is-expected-to-be-lower-this-year) voted — a [record high](https://www.npr.org/2020/11/25/937248659/president-elect-biden-hits-80-million-votes-in-year-of-record-turnout). While turnout in 2024 is [expected to be close](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/06/voter-turnout-2024-by-state/) to that, [Trump made gains](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/08/g-s1-33274/2024-election-how-trump-won-takeaways) across the country, even in Democratic states Harris won. That means she will almost certainly fall short of Biden's total number of votes. Boockvar said there are many times in U.S. political history where "the country went in a drastically different direction" from one election to the next. "Where Democrats might vote for Republican candidates or Republicans vote for Democratic candidates, or people come out more in force \[or\] people come out less," she said. "This is normal." Posts about the gap first emerged on X, formerly Twitter, overnight on Election Day and into the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 6, according to [research](https://www.cip.uw.edu/2024/11/08/post-election-rumors/) by the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, which tracks rumors about election administration. Soon, pro-Trump influencers began sharing them to their own large audiences. Their numbers varied — some said there were 20 million "missing" Democratic votes, while some put it at 15 million, depending on how many votes had been counted for Harris at the time they were posting. But the message was consistent.  "Where did those 20 million Democratic voters go? The truth is, they never existed. I think we can put the lie about Biden's 80 million votes to rest once and for all," [wrote](http://archive.today/2024.11.08-172749/https://x.com/DineshDSouza/status/1854146052653240644) Dinesh D'Souza, who popularized [conspiracy theories](https://www.npr.org/2024/05/31/g-s1-2298/publisher-of-2000-mules-election-conspiracy-theory-film-issues-apology) about [ballot boxes](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/25/nx-s1-5163635/ballot-drop-boxes-explainer) after the 2020 election. His post has been viewed more than 4 million times on X. A similar [post](http://archive.today/2024.11.08-174642/https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1854084840099860528) from [YouTuber Benny Johnson](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/05/nx-s1-5100829/russia-election-influencers-youtube) was viewed more than 22 million times. The narrative took visual form in a bar chart shared by the [far-right website ZeroHedge](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-coronavirus-pandemic-health-moscow-media-ff4a56b7b08bcdc6adaf02313a85edd9) in a [post](http://archive.today/2024.11.08-173350/https://x.com/zerohedge/status/1854144250562429081) that has received 20 million views. Images are a potent and easily shareable way of communicating ideas online, and the graphic comparing 2024’s incomplete count with totals in 2016 and 2020 was quickly picked up and passed along by many other accounts. The D'Souza and ZeroHedge posts in particular accelerated the spread of the misleading narrative. "That's what made the conversation go boom," said Danielle Lee Tomson, research manager at the Center for an Informed Public. On Nov. 7, Cleta Mitchell, an influential [Republican election attorney](https://www.npr.org/2023/06/04/1171159008/eric-investigation-voter-data-election-integrity) who was at the center of Trump's failed attempts to [overturn the 2020 election](https://www.npr.org/2021/01/06/953823383/attorney-on-call-with-trump-and-georgia-officials-resigns-from-law-firm) and has become a pivotal figure in the right-wing ["election integrity"](https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238102501/noncitizen-voting-immigration-conspiracy-theory) movement, weighed in with a [post](http://archive.today/2024.11.08-173712/https://x.com/CletaMitchell/status/1854510194841042975) noting not just the difference between Biden and Harris' vote totals, but also the change in Trump's votes. "Where did 20 million votes go between 2020 and 2024? 15 million for Biden, 5 million for Trump. Who believes Trump received 5 million fewer votes in 2024?" she asked. Kate Starbird, a UW professor and co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, said the dynamic reflects how figures like Mitchell have built their brands on these claims. "There are folks that are making a living right now on talking about election fraud," said Starbird. "2024 isn't going to give them much material for that, because it's not going to advance their political goals." "So they may be replaying 2020 and and trying to bring the events of Election Day 2024 and some of the outcomes into those conspiracy theories about 2020," said Starbird. The ["missing" Democratic votes theory](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/nov/07/threads-posts/no-20-million-democratic-votes-didnt-disappear-and/) also circulated among left-leaning social media users, alongside allegations, without evidence, that Republicans committed fraud this year. Many of these posts were accompanied by the hashtags #DoNotConcedeKamala or #TrumpCheated.  Some of these [posts](https://archive.ph/2024.11.08-165800/https://x.com/LakotaMan1/status/1854071885514051655) got [millions](https://archive.ph/2024.11.08-162516/https://x.com/johnpavlovitz/status/1854169397516025992) of [views](https://archive.ph/2024.11.08-165057/https://x.com/aintscarylarry/status/1854149405685010650). But overall, claims of fraud from left-leaning accounts did not gain the level of prominence, virality or impact as the pro-Trump election denial movement in 2020, according to UW researchers. "Simply put, there is no left-wing equivalent of the 2020 'Stop the Steal' mobilization effort," they [wrote](https://www.cip.uw.edu/2024/11/08/post-election-rumors/). That could be because the left doesn't have the kind of online infrastructure that exists on the right to amplify election fraud claims and to [generate "evidence"](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/06/g-s1-32943/crowdsourced-voting-fraud-claims-could-become-grist-for-republican-lawsuits) — often misleadingly framed photos and videos — to support those claims, UW's Tomson said. What's more, Harris and other Democratic leaders didn't encourage them. Use of the #DoNotConcedeKamala hashtag dropped off after the vice president conceded the race, UW found. "There isn't the same kind of network or improvisation of large left-wing influencers or candidates who are having and sharing in the same kind of conversation in order to get it to get that attention and virality," Tomson said. Boockvar, the former Pennsylvania election official, said the conspiracy theories on both sides show just how much trust in elections has been eroded by sustained attacks on election integrity. "I just want to say, 'Stop already,'" she said of the resurgence of fraud claims. "We have a democratic republic where all eligible voters can vote and we have election systems where the election officials follow defined rules, defined processes, and standards and security and integrity." Ultimately, she said, Americans need to "to separate their faith in the \[electoral\] process and in the people \[who conduct elections\] from disappointment over whether their candidate wins or loses." _NPR's Miles Parks contributed reporting._

 ATLANTA — Every county in Georgia has certified the results of the 2024 general election, a notable step after some Republican local election board members earlier this year declined to certify other results. Typically an uncontroversial procedural move, disputes over election certification cropped up in several states in 2020, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump amplified baseless claims of widespread fraud. The 2020 examples led to worries about what would happen following the 2024 election, with Trump again on the ballot, even as election officials and experts [maintained](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/03/nx-s1-5089981/election-vote-certification-concerns-georgia) that certification is mandatory and legal guardrails would minimize disruptions. But with Trump's win in Georgia and in every swing state across the country this year, claims about widespread election fraud have [largely dissipated](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/09/nx-s1-5184405/election-2024-fraud-claims) — as have concerns about certification. ### A particular focus in Georgia Each state has its [own deadlines for certification](https://www.nased.org/2024dates) of election results at the local and state levels. Georgia's local deadline is among the earliest. Ahead of the 2024 election, battles over certification were most pronounced in Georgia, where Republicans on the State Election Board [approved rules](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/nx-s1-5065909/a-new-rule-in-georgia-could-allow-some-election-boards-to-refuse-to-certify-results) that seemingly allowed local election board members to vote against certifying election results. A judge later [invalidated](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/15/nx-s1-5144185/georgia-election-certification-rules) the rules, declaring them "illegal, unconstitutional and void." Georgia law says local election boards must certify election results by 5 p.m. on Nov. 12. But that did not stop some local election board members from pressing the courts to rule they have discretion to vote against certifying the results. One local Republican board member, Julie Adams of Fulton County, continued to push ahead in her own lawsuit, even after a judge ruled her certification duties mandatory, not discretionary. Adams had declined to certify election results on several occasions, saying she had not been able to independently verify the integrity of the results. Following the November election that saw Trump and others win in Georgia, she voted to certify those results, though she expressed reservations. "I think it's absolutely ridiculous to have a court order saying I have to vote yes," Adams said Tuesday.  In Metro Atlanta's most populous counties — DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett — at least one local Republican board member abstained or voted against certifying results from elections earlier in the year. After the November election, all four boards certified the results unanimously. Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger will next complete the state certification before [presidential electors meet in December](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/31/nx-s1-5161596/electoral-college-count-reform-deadlines). "Election integrity doesn't happen just in the 11th hour, as some fringe activists claimed to try to do this past month. It is planned years in advance," Raffensperger told reporters on Tuesday morning. "I believe every county will be in good shape and have it done." While concerns about irregularities and certification have fallen off, they have not disappeared entirely. Some local board members pressed election officials for clarity about minor discrepancies in the results before voting to certify. A handful of Republicans, like Fulton County board member Michael Heekin, are now calling on the state legislature to empower local election board members with the discretion to vote against certifying results in future elections. And some activists have signaled they will continue to raise concerns about election administration, like criticism of Georgia's voting machines and voter list maintenance. ### "It's completely different" But for local voting officials who were [preparing](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/nx-s1-5119696/election-officials-keep-an-eye-out-as-voting-begins-in-the-2024-general-election) to be in the eye of the storm for weeks on end after voting finished, the relative calm has felt like a seismic shift compared to 2020. "It's completely different," said Lisa Tollefson, county clerk for Rock County, Wis. "This time four years ago, I was getting nasty phone calls constantly in my office and we had police protection for a while." Her county board of canvassers met Monday to verify the general election results. At a similar meeting in 2020, there were a dozen or more observers, Tollefson said. This year: "I had one observer," she said. "That's it." Lisa Posthumus Lyons, a clerk in Kent County, Mich., said media attention on the administration of elections also died down almost immediately after Michigan was called for Trump. "All eyes were on us, and the second we hit midnight almost, it was like they were going to turn into a pumpkin or something and they were gone," Lyons said. "It's not just that it's less tense, but it just seems less interesting to others." _NPR's Miles Parks contributed reporting._

 New data shows that the vast majority of Americans felt this year's general election was administered well, a stark contrast to perceptions in 2020 and a reflection of how Republican voters specifically have come around on election security in a year when their preferred presidential candidate won. Almost 9 in 10 U.S. voters felt the November election was run very well or somewhat well, according to data out Wednesday from the [Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/12/04/voters-evaluations-of-the-2024-election-process/), which surveyed people's opinions starting a week after voting ended. That number is about 30 percentage points higher than it was at a similar point in 2020. The increase in voting confidence was driven exclusively by Republican voters. [](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/12/04/voters-evaluations-of-the-2024-election-process/pp_2024-12-3_election-2024_1-01/) In November 2020, as then-President Donald Trump and [his campaign advisers](https://www.npr.org/2023/12/15/1219048410/giuliani-defamation-trial-money-georgia-election-workers) were spreading [lies](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aqorZ61AYFqZU-EDQBBzjqfvAoC5nKcB/view) about voting and election workers, just a fifth of people who said they voted for Trump also said they felt the election was administered well. This year, 93% of people who voted for Trump approved of how the election was run. "It goes back to who had the microphone in 2020 and 2021," said Carly Koppes, a Republican county clerk in Weld County, Co. "When we have the candidate and the top people that are respected within the two parties not engaging and not amplifying \[election lies\], that's where we see the difference." This year, Trump spread baseless election cheating claims [up until Election Day](https://www.vpm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2024-11-05/officials-refute-trumps-claims-of-massive-cheating-in-philadelphia), but those stopped when the results became clear. Election workers like Koppes are quick to note the two presidential elections were actually very similar from an administration perspective. The 2020 election featured [slightly more](https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1128695831/united-states-2022-patterns-mail-early-voting) mail voting, as many states expanded access options in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about the safety of in-person voting, but neither election featured any [widespread](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/06/nx-s1-5181834/election-day-voting-bomb-threats) issues. The biggest change at the administrative level, Koppes said, was that election officials were more [proactive](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5133476/election-lies-trump-conspiracy-theories-russia) this time around in communicating with the public and the media on security measures they had in place. "We just were able to really move from a defensive spot that we were kind of in, in 2020 and 2021, and then really started to be able to move into a more offensive spot," Koppes said. Speaking at his state's recent election certification, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, noted how different the perceptions of the two presidential races were, despite no major practical changes. "Given the fact that Arizona has essentially the same elections folks, running under the same elections rules, with the same elections systems, and we seem to have done a pretty doggone good job this time around … I think the age of election denialism is, for all intents and purposes, dead," he said. The Pew research showed signs of skepticism under the surface, however. A narrow majority of Trump voters said they were not confident that ineligible voters were prevented from casting ballots this election, for instance. Still, Trump voters had even more confidence in this year's elections process than people who voted for Vice President Harris. That's not abnormal historically, as there has [traditionally been](https://electionlab.mit.edu/research/voter-confidence) what's known as a "winner's effect" in which voters whose candidate won have more confidence in the process. But considering Trump spent all year [denigrating](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/16/nx-s1-5147790/noncitizen-voting-claims-trump) the nation's election security, the swing in confidence is notable. "The GOP numbers are almost irrational exuberance," Paul Gronke, an election administration expert at Reed College, wrote in an email. "The longer record of confidence has shown some winners / losers effect, but nothing like was evident in 2020. … We simply never witnessed until 2020 a candidate and political organization so widely spreading mistrust. It took the 'loser\['s\] regret' effect and supercharged it." The near-universal confidence in this year's elections has also led to a [quieter](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/12/nx-s1-5187043/georgia-election-certification-trump-results) certification period than many voting officials were preparing for. But Koppes, in Colorado, noted that there has still been some [conspiracy theorizing](https://www.wabe.org/election-officials-in-georgia-and-other-swing-states-knock-down-starlink-vote-rigging-conspiracy-theories/) about the election among the fringe-left, and that for some on the right, election denial has become [a career](https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1107868327/trump-election-fraud-jan-6). So lies about voting almost certainly haven't disappeared completely. "It's just until the next election," Koppes said. "These are the new snake oil salesmen. They're going to take any opportunity, for any tiny mistake or big mistake that happens, and continue pounding this drum for as long as they continue to be able to line their pockets."

 Fewer Americans cast their ballots by mail during last year's election, while more voters embraced casting their ballots in-person before Election Day. [New data](https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/2024_EAVS_Report_508c.pdf) from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission found that the 2020 presidential election remains a high-water mark for vote by mail usage in a nationwide election. According to a national survey of local and state election officials that the agency conducts after every major election, "mail voting comprised 30.3% of the turnout for the 2024 election," which is a decrease compared to the 2020 election when mail ballots comprised 43% of turnout. The commission, however, noted that the share of mail voting last year is still "larger than the percentage of the electorate that voted by mail in pre-pandemic elections." Turnout has also stayed above pre-pandemic levels. During the 2024 election, nearly 65% of the citizen voting age population participated in the general election, which is the second highest turnout in the last five presidential elections.  The EAC found that in-person voting started to see "a resurgence" in 2022, while mail voting saw a corresponding decrease that year. "For the 2024 general election, more than two thirds of voters cast their ballots in person either before or on Election Day," the report found. "Approximately three in 10 voters cast their ballots by mail." Commissioner Donald Palmer told NPR that voters often "have their own preferences" when it comes to methods of casting a ballot, but that can change over time if other methods become available to them. "And so election officials, what we take away from that is that we need to be prepared and be ready to facilitate different forms of voting," he said. There are several reasons experts expected that vote by mail was unlikely to be as popular as it was during the pandemic. For one, many states expanded vote by mail for health and safety reasons during the 2020 election, but some reverted back to more limited programs ahead of the 2024 election. Also, in the wake of the 2020 election, President Trump and Republican lawmakers across the country also [spread misinformation](https://www.npr.org/2020/06/04/864899178/why-is-voting-by-mail-suddenly-controversial-heres-what-you-need-to-know) aimed at discrediting voting by mail, which eventually led to a slew of laws being passed in recent years that create new limits on this method of voting. Republicans did embrace mail-in ballots in the 2024 election, encouraging voters to "Bank Your Vote" by getting it in early, in contrast to previous elections. Despite efforts to limit voting by mail in some states, overall access to the ballot for most Americans [has expanded](https://www.npr.org/2024/03/19/1238646047/voting-options-early-mail-ballots) since 2020. ### **More voters opted to vote early in-person** One of the methods of voting that has become more popular in recent years is in-person early voting. During the last presidential election, more than 158 million ballots were cast and counted and the majority of those ballots were cast in-person -- 35.2% of those votes were cast before Election Day and 37.4% on Election Day. According to the EAC, "for the first time, all states reported offering some form of in-person voting before Election Day." Palmer said he thinks early in-person voting is one of the most convenient voting options for many Americans. "It really is convenient to take one of those days in the lead up to Election Day and vote early, particularly if you have to travel or if you've got to be away or you're working," he said. "So I actually think it's just time to take advantage of the convenient voting." Palmer said there were a lot of bright spots in the report – particularly on the security side of voting. At this point, about 98% of voting jurisdictions have a paper trail for their voting systems. Also, the nationwide rejection rate of mail ballots was only 1.2%, which has remained consistently low in recent years. ### **Poll worker recruitment**  One area where there is still work to be done, Palmer said, is in recruiting "the next generation of poll workers." The aging workforce of poll workers has been an ongoing issue in elections. According to the EAC, the primary demographic working at polling sites are between the ages of 61 and 70. Because of the pandemic, younger demographics helped out during the 2020 election. But this reverted a bit, Palmer said, during the last election. "It's going to be a challenge for us as a community to continue to recruit those individuals that really are the backbone of the election," he said. "So we really need the new generation. I guess Gen X needs to step up and start to fill some of these roles as the more elderly population retire or turn over the keys to the folks in the office."