Election Integrity Network
The Election Integrity Network (EIN) is a right-wing 501(c)(4) nonprofit that describes itself as a "coalition of conservative leaders, organizations, public officials and citizens dedicated to securing the legality of every American vote."[1] EIN's president and former chair is attorney Cleta Mitchell, who advised Donald Trump in his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and supported inaccurate claims that the election was stolen.[2]
Established in January 2021, EIN is one of the eight organizations and projects launched that year by the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI).[3]According to the Intercept, EIN grew out of Trump's failed attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. During the 2022 election cycle, EIN "sought to build in-state coalitions focused on recruiting election conspiracy theorists to interrogate local election offices and to become poll workers and watchers."[4] These coalitions include other election denialist groups such as the Tea Party Patriots, Heritage Action for America, Turning Point USA, Audit the Vote PA, and Stand Up Michigan.[4]
Following the 2022 election, EIN has remained active in building its self-described "permanent election integrity infrastructure," and is now focusing on state legislatures, Secretaries of State, and local election offices.[5]
Contents
News and Controversies
EagleAI NETwork
EIN has played a key role in the promotion of EagleAI, a computer program that performs data matches based on public voter data in order to identify "evidence" of voter ineligibility. [6] According to NBC News, EIN has held online trainings for activists around the country, as well as organized state-specific teams in preparation for the program's official launch. Despite warnings from election experts that the kind of public data used by EagleAI may lead to a high rate of false positives, EIN president Cleta Mitchell has demonstrated significant support for the program.[7]
NBC reported that in the spring of 2023, Compass Legal Group - a law firm Mitchell is a beneficial owner in - told the IRS that they were representing Valid Vote, a 501(c)(3) established to support EagleAI. In addition, NBC noted that Jim Womack, president of the North Carolina Election Integrity team, told activists that Mitchell was working with the creator of EagleAI directly on the program's national rollout plan.[8]
EagleAI is intended to replace the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), an existing bipartisan voting partnership.
Anti-ERIC Efforts
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) was established in 2012 as a solution to the problems created by the lack of a national database of registered voters or ID system. ERIC, an opt-in coalition of both blue and red states, helped maintain accurate voter rolls and catch voter ineligibility. While ERIC's membership totaled 32 states and Washington D.C. in the beginning of 2023, within a few months, six Republican officials announced their plans to withdraw their states from ERIC.[9]
An investigation by NPR found that EIN President Cleta Mitchell and the EIN coalition have been central in the discrediting and dismantling of ERIC, primarily through local mobilization efforts to pressure state legislatures to end their membership. In June of 2022, Mitchell convened a "secret ERIC summit with red-state lawmakers" at the Conservative Partnership Institute, where self-described "open-source investigator" Heather Honey presented a 29-page report calling ERIC a "threat to election integrity." According to emails obtained by NPR, secretaries of state from the first five states to withdraw from ERIC attended the CPI event[10] Votebeat reports that as of December 2023, the now nine Republican states that have left ERIC are struggling to find a suitable replacement.[11]
The Virginia Model
An EIN-led coalition in Virginia claimed to have trained 4,500 poll watchers and election workers and organized 18 local task forces, covering 85% of Virginia polling locations during Election Day 2021 and the early voting period.[4] Scott Konopasek, the Fairfax County election registrar during the 2021 election, told the New York Times that EIN coalition members significantly disrupted county election workers and that his resignation from his position was in large part due to the difficulties imposed by the EIN coalition members:[12]
"In Fairfax, a Democratic bastion outside Washington, about three dozen activists associated with the coalition and the local Republican Party rotated through election offices, combing through voter registration applications, undeliverable mail and other materials. Christine Brim, the task force’s leader, appeared in person or emailed staff nearly every day, according to Scott Konopasek, the registrar at the time. The operation ate up county workers’ time with dozens of information requests, as well as informal interrogations, Mr. Konopasek said. 'Everything they saw that they didn’t understand was fraud in their minds and that’s how they would frame the questions,' he said. 'It was always accusatory.'"
EIN and members of its coalition viewed the Virginia 2021 election as a success, EIN Executive Director Marshall Yates celebrated at the October 2022 New Mexico summit that EIN had "had numbers of [election officials] fired across the country" and how "that's what we can do when we have these bad local election officials."[4] The Virginia Institute for Public Policy, part of the EIN coalition, produced "The Virginia Model" document to communicate the strategies and tactics used during the 2021 Virginia election for implementation in other elections.[13]
2022 Statewide Election Integrity Summits
Throughout 2022, EIN held "election integrity" summits in key, battleground states:
Georgia (February 18-19):
The Atlanta, GA summit featured a number of breakout sessions on elections and a "special" keynote from Mark Meadows, “What Happened in 2020 and What We Must Do to Protect Future Elections in Georgia."[14]
Arizona (March 11-12):
The Phoenix, AZ summit featured a number of breakout sessions on elections and a "special" keynote from Mark Meadows, “What Happened in 2020 and What We Must Do to Protect Future Elections in Arizona." The summit also held a "bonus session" on "Special Grassroots Training / Building the Citizens Campaign to Win the Fight for Voter ID in Arizona."[15] Sponsors of the Arizona event included: AMAC Action, America First Policy Institute, America Pack, Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Election Transparency Initiative, EZAZ.org, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, Public Interest Legal Foundation, Tea Party Patriots Action, Virginia Institute for Public Policy, and Voter Reference Foundation.
Florida (March 25-26):
The Orlando, FL summit featured a number of breakout sessions on elections, a "special" keynote from Sen. Jim DeMint, and a speech from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. It also held several Florida specific sessions, "How Floridians Vote: Mail, Machines, and Role of the USPS – How to Be Citizen Watchdogs", and "What We Must Do to Enhance Florida’s Election Code."[16] Sponsors of the Florida event included: AMAC Action, Citizens United Foundation, Defend Florida, Foundation for Government Accountability, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, James Madison Institute, Tea Party Patriots Action, and Virginia Institute for Public Policy. According to a report from AMAC Action, over 400 Floridians attended and additional speakers consisted of Cleta Mitchell, Florida state Rep. Cord Byrd, Chair of the Floria Election Commission Nick Primrose, Republican National Committee's Josh Findlay, and Virginia Policy Institute's Lynn Taylor.[17]
Pennsylvania (March 31):
The Camp Hill, PA summit featured a number of breakout sessions on elections, a sneak preview of “Rigged": a "New Citizens United Documentary," and a speech by Kristen Eastlick from the Capital Research Center titled “The Real Kraken — How Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg Manipulated the 2020 Election." It also held a Pennsylvania specific session, "Understanding Absentee Voting, Recent Court Decisions about No Excuse Absentee Voting in PA, & the Role of US Post Office in Election Mail"[18] Sponsors of the Pennsylvania event included: AMAC Action, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, Tea Party Patriots Action, and the Virginia Institute for Public Policy.
Virginia (April 22-23):
The Williamsburg, VA summit featured a number of breakout sessions on elections, and a specific session on Virginia titled, "What Did the Virginia Legislature Do this Year? What Remains to Be Done?"[19] A special screening of the Citizens United documentary, "Rigged: The Zuckerberg-Funded Plot to Defeat Donald Trump," was held. Sponsors of the Pennsylvania event included: AMAC Action, Heritage Action for America, Middle Resolution, Tea Party Patriots Action, Virginia Fair Elections, and the Virginia Institute for Public Policy.
Michigan (May 13-14):
The Detroit, MI summit featured a number of breakout sessions on elections, and a specific session on Michigan titled, "Building the Michigan Election Integrity Infrastructure".[20] A special screening of the Citizens United documentary, "Rigged: The Zuckerberg-Funded Plot to Defeat Donald Trump," was held. Sponsors of the Michigan event included: AMAC Action, Heritage Action for America, Michigan Election Protection Team, Tea Party Patriots Action, and the Virginia Institute for Public Policy.
Nevada (May 20-21):
The Las Vegas, NV summit included a screening of "Rigged-- The Story of How Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg Manipulated the 2020 Election", and panels titled "Coming together for Election Integrity", "Building the Nevada Election Integrity Infrastructure", "Election Inspector-- Recruitment, Training and Deployment", "Citizen's Guide to Cleaning Voter Rolls" and "The Left's Secret Plan to Spend Your Tax Dollars to Win 2022".[21]
North Carolina (June 10-11):
The Raleigh, NC summit featured special guest Lt. Governor Mark Robinson (R), a screening of "Rigged-- The Story of How Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg Manipulated the 2020 Election", and panels on "Coming together for Election Integrity", "Building the North Carolina Election Integrity Infrastructure", and "The Left's Secret Plan to Spend Your Tax Dollars to Win in 2022".[22]
Wisconsin (June 24-25):
The Wauwatosa, WI summit included a speech from Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson (R), a screening of "Rigged-- The Story of How Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg Manipulated the 2020 Election", keynote speeches from former Wisconsin justice Michael Gableman, Representative Janel Brandtjen, and Lt. Michael Luell, and panels on "The Left's 2022 Plans: Billionaire Donors and Tax Dollars to Manipulate the Election System to Elect Democrats", "Working Together to Fight the Left", and "Zuckerbucks: Private Money Corrupting Elections".[23]
New Mexico (October 19):
The Albuquerque, NM summit's partners included AMAC Action, Citizens United, the Tea Party Patriots, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, and the Virginia Institute for Public Policy.[24] John Eastman, a prominent figure in the failed plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election, was a speaker at this event.[25]
Ties to the Bradley Foundation
As of November 2023, EIN president Cleta Mitchell is a board member of the Bradley Foundation.
| Bradley Files |
|---|
In 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, exposing the inner-workings of one of America's largest right-wing foundations. 56,000 previously undisclosed documents laid bare the Bradley Foundation's highly politicized agenda. CMD detailed Bradley's efforts to map and measure right wing infrastructure nationwide, including by dismantling and defunding unions to impact state elections; bankrolling discredited spin doctor Richard Berman and his many front groups; and more. |
Ties to the Council for National Policy
As of September 2020, EIN president Cleta Mitchell on the Council for National Policy's Board of Governors.
| Council for National Policy |
|---|
The Council for National Policy (CNP) is a secretive, Christian Right organization of funders and activists founded in 1981 by activist Morton Blackwell, commentator Paul Weyrich, direct-mail pioneer Richard Viguerie, right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly and Left Behind author Tim LaHaye. Anne Nelson's book about CNP, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right, describes how the organization connects "the manpower and media of the Christian right with the finances of Western plutocrats and the strategy of right-wing Republican political operatives.” CNP membership as of September 2020 is available here. |
Funding
The Conservative Partnership Institute is not required to disclose its funders but major foundation supporters can be found through their IRS filings. Here is a known contributor:
- Conservative Partnership Institute: $525,000 (2022)
Core Financials
2022[26]
- Total Revenue: $753,255
- Total Expenses: $746,957
- Net Assets: $6,298
Personnel
As of November 2023:[26]
Staff
- Marshall Yates, Executive Director
Board of Directors
- Cleta Mitchell, President
- Wade Miller, Chair
- Gene Hamilton, Secretary
- Patrick Corrigan, Treasurer
- Alexei Woltornist
Contact Information
Election Integrity Network
300 Independence Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003
EIN: 88-2166493
Website: https://whoscounting.us/
Phone: (202) 742-8988
Facebook: Election Integrity Network
Twitter: @EIwatchdogs
Articles and Resources
IRS 990 Filings
2022
Publications
Citizens Guide to Building an Election Integrity Infrastructure, November 2021
Articles
- David Armiak, MAGA Group Grooms Members of Congress and Their Staff for America First Movement, ExposedbyCMD, September 13, 2022.</ref>
- David Armiak, ALEC Honors Election Denier Facing a DOJ Subpoena in Fake Electors Scheme – Its National Chair, ExposedbyCMD, July 29, 2022.
- David Armiak, Revealed: The Biggest Voter Suppressor You’ve Never Heard Of, ExposedbyCMD, March 28, 2022.
- David Armiak and Arn Pearson, Fair Elections and U.S. Constitution Come Under Attack at ALEC Meeting, ExposedbyCMD, December 1, 2021.</ref>
References
- ↑ Election Integrity Network, Home Page, organizational website, accessed March 4, 2024.
- ↑ Andrew Donohue, "Trump Lawyer Cleta Mitchell Escaped Georgia Indictment - and Still Leads Election Denial Movement", the Intercept, September 13, 2023.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, 2021 Annual Report, Conservative Partnership Institute, accessed March 4, 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Documented, "Leaked Audio: Cleta Mitchell's Election Integrity Network Bringing Conspiracy Theorists Into Election System", Documented", August 2, 2022.
- ↑ Documented, "Cleta Michell's 'Election Integrity Network' and Its Attack on Voting Rights", Documented, May 8, 2023.
- ↑ Alice Clapman and Andrew Garber, "A New Antidemocracy Tool", Brennan Center, September 5, 2023.
- ↑ Jane C. Timm, "Inside the Right's Effort to Build a Voter Fraud Hunting Tool", NBC News, August 17, 2023.
- ↑ Jane C. Timm, "Inside the Right's Effort to Build a Voter Fraud Hunting Tool", NBC News, August 17, 2023.
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "What Is the Voter Roll Organization ERIC?", Democracy Docket, March 29, 2023.
- ↑ Miles Parks, "How the Far Right Tore Apart One of the Best Tools to Fight Voter Fraud", NPR, June 6, 2023.
- ↑ Jen Fifield, "Documents Show Republican-Led States Struggling to Clean Voter Rolls After Leaving ERIC", Votebeat, December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Alexandra Berzon, "Lawyer Who Plotted to Overturn Trump Loss Recruits Election Deniers to Watch Over the Vote", New York Times, May 30, 2022.
- ↑ Virginia Institute for Public Policy, "The Virginia Model", accessed March 4, 2024.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, Georgia Statewide Election Integrity Summit, CPI, accessed April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, Arizona Statewide Election Integrity Summit, CPI, accessed April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, Florida Statewide Election Integrity Summit, CPI, accessed April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Jeff Szymanski, AMAC Action – Sponsor & Attendee at Florida Election Integrity Summit, AMAC Action, March 28, 2022.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, Pennsylvania Statewide Election Integrity Summit, CPI, accessed April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, Virginia Statewide Election Integrity Summit, CPI, accessed April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Conservative Partnership Institute, Michigan Statewide Election Integrity Summit, CPI, accessed April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Election Integrity Network, Nevada Statewide Election Integrity Summit, "eventbrite", accessed July 12, 2022.
- ↑ Election Integrity Network, North Carolina Statewide Election Integrity Summit, "eventbrite", accessed July 13, 2022.
- ↑ Election Integrity Network, Wisconsin Statewide Election Integrity Summit, "eventbrite", accessed July 12, 2022.
- ↑ Election Integrity Network, New Mexico Statewide Election Integrity Summit, Election Integrity Network, accessed March , 2024.
- ↑ Documented, "Leaked Audio: Trump Coup Plotter John Eastman Laying Groundwork for 2022 Election Challenges", Documented, October 28, 2022.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Election Integrity Network, 2022 IRS Form 990, organizational filing, November 15, 2023.
