Let’s Be Honest About Who’s Spreading Election Disinformation

An effort to restore faith in the voting process is admirable, but only one party is causing the problem.

May 11, 2024 | Francis Wilkinson | Bloomberg

How do you conduct a nonpartisan discussion about the integrity of election administration when one party is waging war on democratic legitimacy and the other party seeks to uphold it?

If the event I attended in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday night is any indication, you do it by never uttering the words “Democrat” or “Republican,” and by refraining from pointing out exactly who is engaged in subversion of truth and public faith.

The event, held at a public television station studio in the shadow of the rusting hulk of Bethlehem Steel, was one of a series sponsored in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by Keep Our Republic, a nonprofit seeking to combat the spread of misinformation and suspicion about elections. The group works with local officials and others to present factual information about local elections to increase voter confidence and counter falsehoods. Speakers in Bethlehem included a local political science professor, a retired federal judge, a representative of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s office, and the local county executive. Each seemed to be engaged in a good-faith effort to counter propaganda. …