Honoring the Unsung Heroes of Election Protection

Okay, this is from the archives: 2018. But it’s another photo I cherish because it shows some of the great unsung heroes of the Election Protection movement that started, for me, in 2004. By 2018, we were going strong, meeting in Hollywood, FL (who knew there was a Hollywood, FL?).

Left to Right:

• Bennie Smith: Genius computer scientist who discovered a major flaw in election counting software. His findings sparked a movement to restore paper ballots as a way to verify computer counts. Without paper ballots, cheating is too easy and undetectable! Learn more about Bennie Smith.
• Me.
• John Brakey: Fearless Co-founder of AuditUSA, which began as AuditAZ in 2004. He has been a relentless advocate for election transparency and integrity. Learn more about John Brakey and AuditUSA.
• Chris Sautter: Election Attorney, standing behind John Brakey, who has played a key role in fighting for fair elections.
• Emily Levy: Founder and Director of the non-partisan election watchdog organization, Scrutineers. She has been crucial in mobilizing grassroots efforts to ensure election transparency. Learn more about Scrutineers.
• Arlene Leaf: Co-Founder and Treasurer of AuditUSA, tirelessly working to ensure election integrity.

Give them a deep nod of thanks. They’re still at it. We have a ways to go, but transparency is improving, and we can trust the system as long as those paper ballots exist to prove the win and the loss. Our election officials do a really hard job. We support them, but we must strive to keep them honest. The best way to do that is by helping make the elections work as they’re meant to.

Get involved! Be a poll worker! Be a Scrutineer! Join a campaign to register people to vote and educate them on how to vote on their county’s system, and what’s required at the polls or for mail ballots to be filled out correctly!