2022 in Review
December 2022
4 min read
A Note from David Becker, CEIR Executive Director

Our Top 2022 Moments

Defenders of Democracy Awards
“Election officials and others stood strong, spreading the truth that the 2020 election was the most secure, transparent, and verified election in American history, and in the face of a global pandemic and record turnout, election officials oversaw the greatest triumph of democracy in American history.” – David Becker CEIR presented the 2022 Defenders of Democracy Awards in July, designed to recognize election officials and others who showed exemplary courage and leadership to defend democracy – while under enormous pressure – against efforts to undermine the democratic process before, during, and after the 2020 U.S. election. The event featured honorees dedicated to protecting U.S. democracy, many of whom served as witnesses at the January 6 Committee Hearings. The ceremony recognized January 6th Hearing witnesses such as Al Schmidt, Former City Commissioner of Philadelphia, Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State, Gabriel Sterling, Chief Operating Officer in the office of the Georgia Secretary of State, and Judge J. Michael Luttig. See who was honored
The Election Official Legal Defense Network Launches Communications Support for Public Servants Under Siege
“…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.” – David Becker The Election Official Legal Defense Network (EOLDN), a project of CEIR, launched a new program in September 2022, 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. 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. Get Help
The Big Truth
“…one of the most definitive accounts of what really happened in 2020 and essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the depths and nuances of the challenges facing our American democracy and what we can collectively do to overcome them.” – Jocelyn Benson This fall, David Becker, Executive Director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, and CBS’s Chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, provide a fact-driven counter to President Trump’s Big Lie about 2020 election fraud, and examine its potentially dire consequences for the 2024 elections and beyond in their book The Big Truth: Upholding Democracy in the Age of the Big Lie. Called “a thoughtful consideration of how and why to protect the vote – and, with it, American democracy,” by Kirkus Reviews, The Big Truth goes beyond analyzing the key players, pre-election litigation, and the ballots used. They lay bare the methods being undertaken right now to undercut faith, belief, and effectiveness of elections. Get your copy of The Big Truth