Bolstering American Democracy Against Threats to the 2020 Elections
About this commentary series
On August 13, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Ethics and Rule of Law (CERL) and Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), announced the launch of a new commentary series created by the organizations through a joint project titled, Protecting the Integrity of the 2020 Election Against Foreign Interference. Each commentary explored an issue related to foreign interference in elections and election security in Europe and the United States. Expert authors participating in the series examined how Europe is addressing foreign interference in its elections generally, how principles of international law apply to election threats, and how Poland specifically is countering disinformation. Shifting to the United States, commentaries from civil society and federal and state government officials addressed voter attitudes about foreign interference, election security, and fostering confidence in the November election. Commentaries were released each Tuesday, culminating in a virtual symposium on foreign interference and election integrity held on September 17, 2020.
Explore this series
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
#Protect2020
Over the last four years, there has been an unprecedented all-of-nation effort to ensure that the 2020 election is as secure as any in U.S. history....
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
Partnerships to Protect Democracy: States vs. Nation-States
There is a growing and gathering danger shadowing American democracy and our system of elections. It is that malicious foreign actors have demonstrated the motivation and capa...
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
America Needs a ‘We Need You’ Message to Counter Foreign Election Interference
We need a better understanding of why Americans are not more deeply engaged on the issue of foreign election interference....
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
Protecting Election Integrity by Prohibiting Deception and Disenfranchisement
Implementing dual prohibitions on disenfranchisement and deception would go a long way toward protecting the integrity of elections....
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
European Lessons for Tackling Election Interference
The European experience with tackling election interference in the form of disinformation and cyberattacks can provide useful lessons for the United States....
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
The Growing Threat of Domestic Disinformation in Poland
Poland has a clear-eyed view of the threat of foreign interference, particularly from the Russian Federation. But the PiS government has embraced the disinformation playbook....
Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
There’s Still Time to Protect American Democracy Against Threats to the 2020 Elections
The importance of protecting the integrity of the vote—the very foundation of democratic governance—could not be clearer....
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