In a warehouse in Ronkonkoma, NY, former tax law professor David Clements demonstrated to a group of 30 people how to take over public meetings if their election concerns are not being addressed. The training focused on questioning election officials and not certifying election results. Since the 2020 election, right-wing activists, supported by former President Donald Trump, have been working to create an “election integrity” infrastructure to challenge election outcomes.
These activists, including Clements, have crisscrossed the country holding organizing meetings to generate proof of alleged election fraud for lawsuits or to pressure officials not to certify elections. They rely on baseless claims and conspiracy theories that have been debunked. This movement is seen as a battle between good and evil by many activists, positioning the 2024 election as the last chance to save America.
Various groups, led by figures like MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and former Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell, are training activists at the county level to challenge election practices, remove voting machines, and clean up voter rolls. Local activists have already made an impact in some states by halting the use of electronic voting machines or purging voter rolls. County officials have responded in different ways to these activist groups, some finding them helpful, while others view them as a nuisance.
Despite the efforts of these activists, legal experts believe that challenges to election results will not ultimately change the outcome. While there may be noise and resistance following the 2024 election, it is unlikely to sway the final results. The widespread organization of these activists, fueled by conspiracy theories and misinformation, poses a significant threat to the integrity of future elections.
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