Informing Democracy has combined its knowledge on election processes in states and its research on officials responsible for administering elections to identify counties that appear most vulnerable to subversive efforts through vulnerabilities identified in state Vote Counting and Election Certification reports. Counties are ranked as being high, medium, low, and lowest concern levels based on the County Concern Level Rubric explained below.

Concerning findings on an official or within a county does not mean they will seek to undermine the next election, just as a lack of findings is not a guarantee an official will faithfully execute their duties. This research is offered to signify counties that merit closest observation based on Informing Democracy’s research.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024

<aside> 🚨 County Concern Level Rubric High: At least half of members of the local election body with power over certification of elections previously voted to not carry out their certification duties and/or took direct action in an effort to subvert administration of elections and/or denied results of the 2020 Presidential election. This level means at least half of the members of the local election body are identified in research findings with an election subversion and/or election denial tag.

Medium: At least one member of the local election body has previously not carried out their certification duties, taken direct action in an effort to subvert administration of elections, and/or denied results of the 2020 election OR half of members with power over certification or elections have cast doubt on the accuracy or fairness of elections in the United States but no member has previously voted against certification, taken direct action to against certification or supported or engaged in anti-democracy action. This level means at least one member has an election subversion, election denial and/or anti-democracy + election conspiracies tag OR multiple members have an election conspiracies, anti-democracy, and/or election skepticism tag.

Low: At least one member of the local election body but not a majority of officials with power over certification has cast doubt on the accuracy or fairness of elections in the United States or supported or engaged in anti-democracy action. This level means one member has an election conspiracies, anti-democracy, and/or election skepticism tag.

Lowest: No anti-democracy findings.

Methodology

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