ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The general election is just 46 days away, but some truths are already clear: deceased individuals are not voting, and noncitizens aren’t flocking to polling stations to change the outcome of the presidential election.

These findings were presented by top election officials from six key states during a gathering in Ann Arbor aimed at discussing the upcoming general election.

These officials—comprising both Republicans and Democrats—united in their concern about the spread of false information regarding unproven voter fraud.

For hours, they detailed to reporters from across the nation the methods used to register voters, maintain accurate voter lists, conduct elections, and count votes. This event was organized by Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of our elections.

While they refrained from mentioning specific candidates, it was evident that much of the confusion and false narratives arise primarily from Donald Trump’s reelection efforts and the Republican Party.

This discussion occurred as the U.S. House was hobbled by partisan conflicts, notably Speaker Mike Johnson’s failed attempt to tie government funding legislation to a proposed bill addressing noncitizen voting.

Johnson risks a federal government shutdown over a problem that election experts indicated is marginal and easily manageable.

Noncitizens are not overwhelming our polling stations

Al Schmidt, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State, was the sole Republican election official in Philadelphia seven years ago when he identified a flaw in the state’s motor-voter system that permitted noncitizens to register.

Schmidt noted that “this was a very rare occurrence.” He collaborated with local and state authorities to address the issue.

On Thursday, he criticized the “misinformation” regarding voting, which has led to unreasonable actions among people who “believe they are justified in their behavior.”

Lisa Posthumus Lyons, the Kent County clerk in Michigan, shared that this November marks her 27th election, and she has “never encountered a noncitizen casting a ballot.” However, she has encountered isolated cases of noncitizens “accidentally” registered to vote.

“In these rare cases, they’ve come forward to us,” she explained. “They wish to be removed from the rolls.”

Misinformation regarding deceased individuals voting

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State, recounted facing accusations after the 2020 election that 10,315 deceased individuals had voted in his state. However, an investigation by his office yielded only four instances where ballots were cast in the name of dead individuals, all of which were referred to prosecutors.

“There are numerous claims being made,” Raffensperger, a Republican, stated, reiterating the importance of diligently managing voter rolls. “That’s where the real effort lies. A clean registry is crucial for building public trust.”

Karen Brinson Bell, North Carolina’s election director, mentioned that if someone votes early but passes away before the election, that ballot is subject to challenge.

“We had a county elections director who had to address a challenge to remove her mother’s ballot in 2020 when her mother passed away due to cancer,” Brinson Bell shared.

Election officials recognize that counting ballots takes time, even if some voters wish to ignore this fact

The discussions at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library highlighted that it takes time to count ballots, making it clear this process is not akin to a football game where the score is known when time runs out.

This time gap also creates an opportunity for misinformation to spread, particularly in states where absentee ballots cannot be counted until Election Day.

Meagan Wolfe, the chief election official in Wisconsin, noted that her state faces challenges stemming from this rule.

She remarked, “It will always be difficult for the truth about elections to counteract election-related claims, because the actual facts are often less engaging and less sensational.”

Even with Arizona’s long-standing early voting practices, the state continues to witness lingering influences from the 2020 election, where Republicans urged in-person voting or ballot drop-off on Election Day.

Lisa Marra, Arizona’s election director, mentioned that “hundreds of thousands of people” still opt to follow this advice.

“Even with us working tirelessly in multiple shifts, the situation remains challenging,” she explained, as all these ballots require verification before the final results can be posted.

What challenges do election officials face across the nation?

The issue of misinformation was starkly evident when election officials discussed the threats they encounter.

Marra reported that an unusual envelope intended for the Arizona secretary of state was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service and turned over to the FBI. Brinson Bell in North Carolina encountered a similar situation.

Raffensperger mentioned that his office in Georgia was alerted to a suspicious package heading their way, prompting law enforcement to take action to intercept it.

All election officials shared the training programs they’ve implemented to handle conflicts at polling stations effectively and to support local poll workers facing increased pressures.

Election workers feel the pressure. They just want to do their jobs without disruption.

It was clear that these professionals are committed to doing their jobs well. They did not enter election management for notoriety or wealth and certainly didn’t want to be the targets of misinformation or threats from those disturbed by such claims.

This is where I could urge politicians, like Trump, to cease spreading unfounded claims about elections for the sake of public safety and decency. However, I recognize it would be futile; they are unlikely to heed such calls.

The election officials expressed a blend of hopefulness and practicality. For example, Stephen Richer, the recorder from Maricopa County in Arizona, described himself as “cautiously optimistic,” noting that our current conversation was different from what could have occurred in 2020.

He also remarked, “I suspect we will collectively endure some hardships by the time we’re through with this process. I just hope that it’s not too severe.”

Stay updated with YSL News elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan