How will federal forces impact the election, if at all? The Center for Strategic & International Studies, a bi-partisan think tank, published a detailed primer on the topic, which includes breakdowns of laws around when federal forces can be deployed and how they can be used. Three Key Takeaways There is no wiggle room when…

Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) and the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) recently launched a TRUST Network aimed at monitoring election risks. The non-partisan network’s Early Warning Early Response (EWER) system is made up of hundreds of volunteers that use “content analysis and digital mapping” to identify risks. Here’s how journalists can use their…

Election SOS hosted a series of webinars with our colleagues Dr. Michelle Ferrier of Trollbusters and Viktorya Vilk of PEN America about digital and physical safety while reporting. Some of their tips include how to conduct a threat assessment for your own work and how to sorta dox yourself. Throughout our sessions, certain tips and…

The polls have closed, but the electoral process is still underway. Experts have warned that announcing the results of this election could take longer than what the American public and the media are used to. This roundup will prepare you to cover this period of uncertainty with integrity and confidence. Covering Results Responsibly Explain that…

It’s finally here: Tuesday, Nov. 3. Election Day. Whether you’re in a newsroom or out in the field, here’s what you need to know to cover Election Day effectively. Covering the Polls: VotingWorks has put together a handy guide on what to do when the polls close. This is a given, but there won’t be…

We’re officially in the election already with record numbers of ballots already cast in early and absentee voting. Our goal at ElectionSOS is to provide context, not conflict as the election unfolds. Here are the top tools and resources for journalists covering the days before Nov. 3 and beyond.  Audience-First Focus on your audience and…

Our friends at PEN America have curated a comprehensive Reporters Guide ahead of the upcoming election. The three-part guide features tips on everything from using social media thoughtfully to debunking misinformation by providing facts and content.  Next Steps: Download the guide from PEN America Sign up for the Election SOS newsletter Join Election SOS…

Vote curing, or “fixing” one’s ballot so it is counted (because of a missing signature, for example), looks to be a lingering issue on and around Election Day. The process varies by state. So what does the vote curing process actually look like? Democracy Fund’s Tammy Patrick, a former election administrator, notes that there are…

November 3rd, or “Election Day” is really the last day for voters to cast ballots. In many states, it is also the first day for counting ballots and tallying results. Even though we’ve gotten used to knowing the outcomes of elections some hours after the polls close, that is not a deadline for declaring winners. Deadlines…

What should journalists do when the polls close on Election Night? Our friends at VotingWorks, a non-partisan non-profit focused on voting technology, have put together two guides that delve into the election process once the polls close and ensuring a candidate actually won through risk-limiting audits. Three Key Takeaways There are never official results on…

How does trauma impact journalists? Heath Druzin, Boise State Public Radio’s Guns & America reporter, and Lori A. Zoellner, Ph.D., a Director of the University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress, talk about trauma and protecting yourself as a reporter, in a conversation moderated by The Carter Center’s Kari Cobham. Watch this webinar…

At Election SOS, we believe that democracy must be preserved and newsrooms have the responsibility to meaningfully listen and respond to the communities they serve and aim to serve, so the public can fully participate in the democratic process. Here is a checklist for journalists to use at each state of the reporting process to…