New Communications Support Program Launched for Election Officials Under Siege
Effort by Election Official Defense Network Designed to Combat Misinformation Ahead of Midterms, Marks One Year Since Group’s Founding
September 7, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – The Election Official Legal Defense Network (EOLDN) is launching a new program today, designed to give communications assistance to election officials, many of whom are facing unprecedented levels of abuse, attacks, and threats. The program complements the ongoing work of EOLDN to give pro bono legal assistance to election officials. EOLDN, a project of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, was created one year ago by David Becker, Executive Director, and Co-Chairs, Bob Bauer and Ben Ginsberg.
“After spending the last year providing pro bono legal assistance to those who professionally administer U.S. elections, we consistently heard from our clients that they not only need legal help, but they also need advice and support when it comes to disinformation attacks designed to injure their public reputations and impede their work,” said David Becker, Executive Director of EOLDN.
“This combined communications and legal service is available to any election official, completely free of charge. This service is available whether they need it for planning, rapid response, or anything in between. Gone are the days when attacks on election officials – whether in a courtroom or in the public square – go unanswered.”
To request assistance, election officials should fill out a short request form on https://eoldn.org. A staff member will review the request, and then will connect the official with a communications firm for assistance, at no cost to the official or their office. To be eligible, a request must:
- Be submitted by an election official/office
- Relate to election administration
- Comply with relevant laws
About the Election Defense Network
The Election Official Legal Defense Network is a project of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research. EOLDN connects licensed, qualified, pro bono attorneys with election administrators who need advice or assistance in the face of threatened prosecutions or physical threats. Election workers from all over the country, at the state and local level, can contact EOLDN over the internet or by phone at any time, to request to be connected to a lawyer who can help them, at no cost. This service is available regardless of the election official’s political affiliation, or whether they work in a blue or red state or county.
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