Defend Democracy Project Pennsylvania

Democracy in Pennsylvania is under attack by Donald Trump and his allies. This report describes the most dangerous of many ongoing efforts. We surveyed grassroots organizers, legal analysts, and academic experts to identify the key risks.

Our analysis found three primary threats that are intertwined, working at every level of the electoral process, starting with state and local election administration. Election deniers are targeting local election officials and running an ongoing statewide election audit that has led to voting system breaches and privacy violations. Second, these ideologues are derailing election certification proceedings by refusing to certify county-level election results and working to dismantle electoral checks and balances. Finally, they are pushing a slate of bills, lawsuits, and initiatives predicated on baseless election conspiracy theories, aiming to constrict ballot access.

These threats are designed to overturn the will of American voters, and take away our most basic right to choose their own leaders. Trump and MAGA Republicans in Pennsylvania are actively working to disrupt election administration, obstruct certification, and suppress votes in order to consolidate power over elections for decades to come.