After Secretary of State Brian Kemp defeated Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in the 2018 gubernatorial election, Abrams accused the governor-elect of “rigging” the election for her own benefit and refused to concede the results.
A few years later, Georgia was thrust back into the spotlight when President Donald Trump won the Peach State by about 12,000 votes. Despite multiple recounts, manual recounts, legal maneuvering, and countless PR stunts, Joe Biden was declared the winner, setting off a years-long fight over “election security.”
The 2018 and 2020 elections may be over, but the spread of misinformation continues. For hard-working Georgians more interested in putting food on the table than investigating the latest manufactured controversy, it can be hard to tell what’s true and what’s a ridiculous lie.
For politicians of both parties, speaking the truth across party lines carries political consequences. Similar disincentives exist in the media, social media figures and political establishment. Put plainly, while courage is in short supply, political ambition and greed are clearly abundant.
Understanding the sad and harsh reality and the harmful impact of inaction, as former elected officials in Georgia, we launched an organization last month to protect the transparency, safety, security and effectiveness of our state’s election process and the nation’s election system.
While confidence in our nation’s democracy is at an all-time low, the Democracy Defense Project (DDP) works to shore up confidence in the integrity of our electoral system. To do its part to counter attempts to undermine the integrity of our elections, the Democracy Defense Project board member who co-authored this guest essay will speak out publicly in defense of those sworn to uphold the rule of law.
To reach Georgians from all walks of life, the Democracy Defense Project will use earned and paid media to raise awareness of efforts to subvert the election and help move the state away from polarizing rhetoric.
Georgia board members are joining a national effort, focusing especially on battleground states where federal election challenges are possible.
Many of us disagree on the mainstream issues of the day, but we are ready to set aside political differences and party labels for the greater good.
The Democracy Defense Project calls “balls and strikes” in an umpire-less arena, but we expect backlash from people on each side of the political spectrum. Let us be clear: this effort is not about political candidates, parties, or political agendas. It is far more important than all of those combined. Our mission is to seek and disseminate the truth, to defend and preserve the democratic process, and to ensure that the next generation can think critically and choose wise leaders. This goes beyond the November election. We look decades into the future.
Earlier this month we celebrated American independence from British tyranny. Now we must remember what makes our country great: our Constitution, peaceful transitions of power, and government by “we the people.”
We must also remember that the free and fair elections we enjoy today were made possible by countless American patriots willing to sacrifice their lives for our democracy. It is our sacred duty to defend what they protected at the ultimate cost.
This is a pivotal moment for our country that calls for unprecedented action. Our movement will help repair and strengthen the pillars of our democracy so that future generations can be blessed to live in a place where truth resides, opportunity abounds, and freedom prevails.
Nathan Deal, a Democrat, served as governor from 2011 to 2019, in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2010 and in the Georgia State Senate from 1981 to 1993.
Democrat Roy Barnes served as Georgia’s Governor from 1999 to 2003, served in the Georgia State Senate from 1974 to 1990, and represented Georgia in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998.
Saxby Chambliss, a Republican, served as a U.S. Senator from Georgia from 2003 to 2015 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
Shirley Franklin, a Democrat, served as mayor of Atlanta from 2002 to 2010.
