Push Back on Election Violence and Disinformation with former Congressman Ron Barber

Photo by Chris DeYoung

Former US House member Ron Barber is leading a cross-partisan initiative — the Democracy Resilience Network — to push back on election disinformation and violence targeting voters at the polls.

“Our democracy is in serious danger, and these networks will help restore trust and confidence in our elections,” Barber says. “We believe that the vast majority of Americans share these concerns and will respond favorably to credible and trusted messengers.”

Ron co-leads the Arizona Network with Don Henninger, a moderate Republican from Scottsdale, AZ. Don has been the Managing Editor of the Arizona Republic, a business leader, and an activist in civic and religious circles.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkduirqj0jG9FQV8qFppOjiYD6wZ8AY1F5

Ron Barber is a Democrat who served in Congress representing Tucson from 2012 to 2015. Ron was the District Director for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and the Regional and State Director of Arizona services to people with developmental disabilities. He has led human service agencies and non-profit agencies in Arizona for 34 years.

“We’ll push back against election deniers and not let them get away with misinformation,” Barber said. “We cannot let lying, hyperbole and violence undermine our elections.”

The Democracy Resilience Network will address how our election processes have been harmed by threats of violence, acts of violence, vitriolic statements, and the abandonment of democratic norms. Nationwide, the Network is composed of 300+ faith leaders, business leaders, former and current elected officials, and directors of community nonprofits.

They ask candidates to adopt five Principles for Trusted Elections:

1. Honest process: Cooperate with election officials, adhere to rules and regulations, and refrain from knowingly propagating falsehoods about the electoral process.
2. Civil campaign: Encourage a peaceful election atmosphere during the pre-election, polling, counting, and post-election periods. Denounce any attempt to intimidate, harass, threaten, or incite violence against opponents, their supporters, and election workers.
3. Secure voting: Respect voters’ freedom to exercise their lawful rights to register and vote, free from interference, obstruction, or intimidation.
4. Fair oversight: Encourage political parties and others to train poll watchers on the election process and appropriate roles and behaviors, responsibilities, and obligations.
5. Trusted outcomes: Make claims of election irregularities in accordance with the law and acknowledge the legitimacy of the outcomes after the results have been certified and all contestations decided.

“2022 is a big election — democracy is on the ballot,” Barber said. “The election deniers want to tear it apart and install a dictatorship.”