Election Denialists Gain Local Power Across United States

A growing number of local election officials aligned with the election-denial movement have taken office across the United States. According to a review of a Voting Rights Lab database, at least 25 such officials entered office since the 2024 federal election, joining approximately 69 others already in place. These officials, serving as county election directors and board members, have promoted conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election or attempted to delay certification processes.

In North Carolina, a state law passed by a Republican supermajority led to the replacement of all 100 board of elections chairs with Republicans. Other disruptions include efforts in Mohave County, Arizona, where board supervisors have debated requiring hand-counted ballots for the 2026 election. In Michigan, Victoria Bishop, the clerk of Antrim County, is under criminal investigation after attempting to unilaterally remove voters from registration rolls. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson subsequently ordered Bishop to undergo compliance training and restricted her access to voter records.

The National Association of Election Officials warned that these election-skeptic officials risk lending legitimacy to false theories. Activists like Jay DeLancy, a board member in Lee County, North Carolina, have worked to restrict Sunday voting under the guise of ensuring elections are administered fairly.