ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger spoke on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday about election security heading into next fall and how he, along with other officials, plans to combat disinformation.
When asked about Georgia's preparedness for the fall election, Raffensperger stated, "We're obviously ready and battle-tested."
Raffensberger additionally pointed to changes made after the 2020 election, such as the requirement for photo ID, a decision that was not without its controversies. However, he also noted extra early voting days and pre-processing ballots to deliver quicker results.
As far as how he plans to combat distrust in elections, Raffensberger simply stated that his strategy is to talk to people.
That includes giving what he called a "rear-view image of 2020," explaining that factors such as Republicans just not showing up to the polls helped turn the state blue for the first time in years.
In addition, he said he often points to things like the photo ID law or the state's ability to audit any race to help build confidence.
Another topic that was discussed was violence and threats against election workers.
One of the more notable examples is former Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The mother-daughter duo endured death threats from across the nation after former President Donald Trump and his attorney Rudy Giuliani accused them of election fraud, a claim that was quickly debunked.
Yet, Raffensperger seemed unworried by the possibility of voter workers feeling scared off this time around, noting he believes counties in Georgia are doing a great job at recruiting
"Whenever I talk to groups, I always ask, 'Who is a volunteer to be a poll worker?' And I always make sure to give them a standing ovation," the secretary of state explained.
Raffensperger also noted that poll training is being conducted for political party observers so that they can understand the various checks and balances that occur during the process.
But, as far as he feels about threats against himself, Raffensperger stated he tries not to let it distract him, adding, "You just put your head down and do the job."
What he said has bothered him, though, has been when threats are made against his family, specifically his wife and daughter-in-law.
Finally, Raffensberger and the other election officials spoke about the potential threat AI could pose in upcoming elections. From Raffensberger's perspective, the key to combating disinformation spread using AI is all about timing, noting the importance of getting out in front of a narrative and correcting it before it spreads into a larger conspiracy theory.
