Election Skeptics Use Public Records Requests to Challenge California Vote Integrity
Groups with a history of spreading misinformation and fundraising off election claims are seeking voter data from California officials ahead of the November election.
Groups with a history of spreading misinformation and fundraising off election claims are seeking voter data from California officials ahead of the November election.
· Updated
Election skeptics in California are actively using public records requests to gather information from local election officials, raising concerns about the potential for these records to be used to sow doubt in election results. These groups, some with ties to national election-denier movements, have submitted dozens of requests to county election offices across the state.
CalMatters obtained logs of these requests from 13 California counties, revealing that organizations such as True the Vote have sought documentation related to election processes. True the Vote, which has a history of fundraising based on unproven claims of election fraud, stated its aim is to document how jurisdictions respond to executive orders concerning elections.
Some of these groups have faced scrutiny for their past actions. True the Vote has been investigated for fundraising campaigns that did not yield promised evidence of fraud. The Public Interest Legal Foundation, another group requesting records, previously admitted to falsely accusing thousands of voters of being non-citizens based on public records it obtained.
Concerns have been amplified by instances where law enforcement has acted on information provided by such groups. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office seized ballots based on an activist group's findings, and the FBI inspected ballots in Shasta County following claims by its election official, who has ties to election-denier circles.
David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, described the fundraising tactics of some of these groups as an "economy of grift," noting the consistent presence of donation appeals alongside their claims. These efforts are occurring as Republican Party leaders continue to make unsubstantiated allegations about election integrity.
FAQ
What kind of information are these groups requesting from election officials?
The groups are requesting various election-related public records, including how jurisdictions respond to executive orders, election personnel records, organizational charts, job descriptions, and resumes.
Have law enforcement agencies previously acted on information from these groups?
Yes, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office seized ballots based on an activist group's findings, and the FBI inspected ballots in Shasta County after its election official made claims of potential fraud.
