Supervisor gates is a republican as are members of our panel today, but he spoke out against this campaign of threats and lies, because protecting our democracy is more important than partisan politics. Today, the committee released a report detailing new findings from our investigation into the effects of election misinformation and disinformation. We asked local Election Officials in four states, arizona, florida, ohio, and texas how election lies are impacting their ability to do their jobs. What we heard is chilling, Election Officials are under siege. They face growing campaigns of harassment and threats, all driven by false accusations of fraud. For example, we learned that after the 2020 election conspiracy theorists alex jones, roger stone, and mike lindell singled out one florida election administrator, they publicized his Office Phone Number and encouraged listeners to call with the message that we are watching him and he is a piece of crap. He reported receiving countless threatening calls in texas. The spread of conspiracy theories and National Media outlets drove truly despicable threats on social media. People threatened to kill one election administrator and let his lifeless body hang in public, until maggots drip out of his mouth. Other messages included chilling threats against Election Administrators. Including one stating i think we should end your bloodline. The people who run elections in some states are also being subjected to outrageous new civil and criminal penalties for simply doing their jobs. Republican state legislatures in each state. In each state we investigated have proposed or enacted laws that make it far more difficult to administer elections. Local Election Officials told the committee that they tried to push back against these laws because they did not improve election security, would increase costs, and were inspired by false claims. But a republican legislatures enacted them anyway. These pressures have been so great, that experienced election professionals are quitting their jobs. Lets be clear, the election lies pushed by former President Trump and his allies have inspired truly dangerous efforts to subvert elections. These schemes are not about fairness, election security, or the truth. They make it harder for americans to cast their ballots but easier for dishonest officials to overturn the results of elections they dont like. Todays report details a set of actions that congress and the administration can take to begin addressing this problem. These include establishing a coordinated federal approach to protecting our elections. It also in i now want to recognize mr. Sessions for an opening statement. Recognized. Madam chair, thank you very much and to our witness who are here today, thank you very much. The issue that is before us today is a very interesting one because you see where there questions asked especially of Election Officials there are no answers. Theyre sigh leapt. They defend themselves, yes, maam, they do. Investigation, who has been given many, many, many of these what i would call abnormalities, inconsistencies, and irregularities has yet to even acknowledge the receipt of those. They do not even begin to look at the information that were presented to vastly to the presented vastly to the american people. And when i have provided to the federal bureau of investigation three years ago and one year ago detailed information, that we assumed that we were asking questions about and expected to hear something back. We did not call it vote fraud. We called it abnormalities, inconsistencies, and irregularities. And yet, the federal bureau of investigation even refuses to acknowledge receipt of this information. Madam chairman, i do appreciate you holding this hearing today. I do appreciate you having witnesses who come today as experts. Ive seen their titles and their organizations. They consider themselves experts. Madam chairman, i will today provide the same information that i have provided to other Law Enforcement agencies, other Elections Officials, who have yet to even write back, call back, or even make a public statement. And i would like to challenge these officials, these witnesses who are here before today, i before us today, i will give them the same information that i have given to Law Enforcement and i truly would respect and appreciate, since they are experts and being called on today since theyre professionals in these areas, to look at directly the information that were requesting. One of the primary points that we would make is some 57,000 votes that were made in dallas county. Votes that subsequently disappeared from the voter rolls only to appear weeks later. I did not call this broad, i called this inconsistencies, abnormalities, and irregularities. But you see, madam chairman, there has been no explanation. And so, when there are questions, i believe that officials who are responsible, who are professional, as you and i believe, i have an obligation as you and i believe, have an obligation to respond back to credible, professional people. So each one of you here today as witnesses within just a few minutes will be receiving from me an official letter in my duties, not only government form but on this subcommittee, asking you to please take time and to dig in and use your professionalism. We have professionals on our side and wed be very pleased to work with you, but we have been incapable to hear back from Elections Officials and federal Law Enforcement on this issue,. Madam chairman, thank you for the time, and i yield back and look forward to the hearing from these witnesses who will provide us Vital Information about our country. Thank you. Today im thrilled to be joined by an incredible panel of Election Administrators and experts. We will hear from lisa marra, director of elections for cochise county and arizona, and the president s of the Elections Officials of arizona. Were also honored to have tina barton, senior election expert from the Elections Group and a former Senior Program advisor to the Election Assistance Commission. We also welcome nora v. , the senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights at the Advocacy Organization free press. And finally, its my pleasure to recognize my colleague, mr. Welch, to introduce our final panelist. Mr. Welch. I want mr. Welch to make the introduction. Hello . I want to just welcome jim condos, vermont, secretary of state, and i want to thank the remarkable panel for being here and for the important work you do for democracy. Now well give each of our panelists three minutes for brief remarks. Secretary condos, let us start with you. Secretary condos, please. Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. Chairwoman maloney, Ranking Member comer. It is my honor to be here before you and speak to the rest of the committee. For the record, i am jim condos, vermonts 38th secretary of state and chief election official. Im a Second Generation american, and im very proud of my greek heritage. Since taking office, my top priority has been accessibility, security, accuracy, and the integrity of vermonts elections. I am proud that vermont is widely considered one of the most voter friendly states in the country. I am equally proud of the high marks vermont has received from m. I. T. s election performance index, better known as the epi. A highly reputable data driven analysis of state election administration, vermont has scored first in the nation on that in both the 2016 and 2020 president ial elections. In vermont, we utilize the Gold Standard of Election Integrity of voter marked paper ballot. Since the 2006 time period, we have done completed post general election audits that have provided assurances that our elections have integrity. These facts did not stop a man named harry ansbach from calling our office and leaving numerous threatening voice mails for my election team, following the 2020 election. Those voicemails, colored with lewd and profane language, repeatedly told my staff that one, our time was up. We would be hanged or executed by firing squad. Our days were numbered. We would and i quote, get effin popped, and to put a gun in our mouth and pull the trigger. These threats and others were coupled with the same conspiracy theories about the integrity of our elections that our former president and his supporters continue to push to this very day. Lies so insidious, theyre driving people to make violent threats against sworn Election Officials, just for doing their jobs. The voicemails were so concerning, that one of my Staff Members suffered symptoms of ptsd, and he had to receive extensive counseling, while taking a leave of absence. We have had to forego budget issues to install new security features at our office building, and we worked with our legislature and Law Enforcement to strengthen vermonts ability to investigate and prosecute threats like these. Unfortunately, this story is not unique to vermont. This experience is shared by my colleagues around the country, some of whom have added 24 7 security as states. Some of whom have added 24 7 security. As states, we can only do so much to respond. We need Congress Help to ensure we have the support, the tools necessary to keep our committed election workers safe, and we need to have dedicated Financial Resources available to be able to administer their secure, transparent, and fair elections. I always end by saying, no Election Officials should have to fear for their lives while focused on their duties and service to our democracy. Our democratic process cannot survive undefended attacks on the people we rely to vote. Thank you. Thank you for your very moving testimony. Ms. Mara, you are now recognized. Good afternoon from arizona, madam chairwoman and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the round table today. Im honored to be here and honored to serve as an election official in arizona. I look forward to continuing and creating new partnerships across the country, to Work Together to continue to build upon trust in our election system and to educate voters. So theyre reassured that their one vote really does matter. The 15 counties in our great state vary greatly. But what is consistent whether we have 2000 voters or two million voters is our dedication in every county to continue to conduct accurate, safe, and secure elections. Our voters are angry and confused. They simply dont know what to believe. What is clearly apparent, once we can have a conversation and move past that anger, is just frustration. People who voted for years and were never concerned with simple things like candidate rotation on the ballot now think everythings a conspiracy. These conversations saddens me the most, because weve fractured the spirit of many who think voting doesnt even matter anymore. They arent sure who they can turn to for advice and answers, and weve got to repair this damage now. Im really hopeful that we can, we need to continue to speak up and correct these deliberate or misinformational statements, when we hear them. As many angry calls and threats continue across the country, we get more calls and emails from people thanking us for our service, and those are far more in our county. The problem is people say they see these statements and they see these claims against us and they want to speak up and say its not true, but they dont because theyre afraid of being attacked. Understandable. Its why many Election Officials cant speak up. Theyre fearful of becoming attacked, or theyre fearful of losing their jobs. Its easy to attack the small minority, who keep speaking up to defend elections. Its important in america, if everybody spoke up to defend what they know is true, it would be a much bigger target. Wed still be attacked most likely, but theres safety in numbers, and its pretty hard to attack millions of us that speak the truth. Election officials and poll workers are your neighbors, your friends, possibly even your family. Support and defend them. If experienced Election Officials across this country continue to quit or run out of their jobs because of this ridiculous harassment, whos going to take their place . The answer, its inexperienced people, and thats not going to help us move the needle to increase voter confidence in thank you for your testimony. Good afternoon, Ranking Member, and members of the committee. Thank you for convening this roundtable. I recently concluded a 30 two year career in Public Service where i served up the local, county, and public levels. On election night, 2020, my teammate made an error. The error was found and quickly corrected. The following friday a press conference the party that had nam and aided me as their candidate had nominated me as their candidate had lost in there cant in their county but there press conference changed my life forever. Just last night in oakland county, we found 2000 ballots that had been given to democrats that were republican ballots due to error. You could hear the gasps of everyone in the room. I was stunned. I responded with the following statement. My name is tina, as a clark my job is to run elections fairly and securely, all ballots have been accounted for. There were no missing ballots. The accusation that two 1000 were found as categorically false. As a republican i am disturbed that this is being characterized undermined the election process. This was an isolated mistake that was quickly rectify when quickly rectified when realized. Voters should have confidence in our system, and there is a paper ballot backup. I stand by our reported results. One day after that press conference i received my first death threat it was laced with inset obscenities, threats to my life, my families life, and used sexually charged language. Pardon me. Over one 1000 incidents of hostile and harassing content have been we need your help we need funding that was specifically meant to help officials. We need to protect those that administer elections. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, you are now recognized. Chairwoman, esteem members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to appear before you and for speaking Free Press Action views against election misinformation. This section is of paramount of apartments for the committee and democracy. These concepts are not law are not new. Theyve been used to office gate through truth but these threats are more potent in the digital age. Pew has found that most americans fight use of social media as their information gateway. Social Media Companies like meta and google know that people are vulnerable to incendiary and deceitful content and have built profitable Business Models around amplifying and getting more eyeballs on mis and disinformation. Layered on top of this business incentives are the information gaps left where quality local journalism has withered in the absence of robust news coming to people through other channels. Online users are consuming content largely in their own social media echo chambers. Predicated on platforms, abusive data practices in which they target users based on our behaviors and preferences. In 2020, for example, voters were targeted with content online that discouraged them from voting. With surgically precise efforts to dissuade black indigenous and latino voters from turning out to the polls. The goal of such disinformation campaigns is clear to disenfranchise voters and to build distrust in our institutions and each other. The impact of recent disinformation efforts has outlasted, far outlasted the last several election cycles. For example, policymakers in 18 states have used lies about the 2020 election being stolen or corrupt to legitimize introduction of new laws. These constitutionally troublesome laws narrow voter access and make the electoral process harder. Disinformation is thus not only a vehicle for social division , but is used to advance structural limits on American Freedom and basic rights with basic rights. With the dale tail of harm so long and entrenched in our society, we must move towards cross partisan discussions about how to blunt the spread of disinformation by increasing defensive tactics at the indy at the individual, local, and systemic levels. We must rein in abusive practices by social Media Companies, their Business Models threatened to destabilize our democracy by amplifying lies and calls for violence, reaching audiences with the speed and precision and scale only once unimaginable. Finally, as we develop defenses to malign campaigns that manipulate communities. We must develop proactive measures that rebuild healthy information pathways and strong local news to better empower communities rather than discourage civic engagement. Thank you so much for having me, i look forward to further discussion with the committee. I want to thank all of you for being here and for your remarkable testimony. We will now move into two questions with three minutes allotted for member. I now recognize members in order of seniority alternating between democratic and republican members. Once all the members present have had the opportunity to ask questions. To ask questions, well see if time allows for additional questions the gentleman from questions. The gentleman from maryland now ruskin is now recognized. Mr. Baskett madam chair thank you very much for calling this urgently important hearing. Miss mara, id like to come to you. I was very moved by your testimony t