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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2023
Few Republicans have confidence in elections

the nonprofit group, which
emphasizes that it is non-
partisan. "The best way to
help people understand is
to bring the experts to them
and connect with them like
this. Then they can spread
that information to their
own friends, family and
neighbors."
Bernier, a Republican
former state senator, broke
with her own party to criti-
cize those who disseminate
false election claims, draw-
ing pushback from her fel-
low Republicans across the
state. The event in late Sep-
tember was the second in
a series she is planning to
combat election doubts
and conspiracy theories in
Wisconsin. The groups plans
to expand its efforts into
Michigan and Pennsylva-
nia.
"I've been yelled at more
times than I can count,"
Bernier said. "People have
sent out press releases
chastising me. But I'm go-
ing to stand my ground
because the truth is on my
side, and this work needs to
be done."
Former Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wis., speaks during a community engagement event led by Keep Our Republic on Monday, Sept. 25,
2023, in Suamico, Wis. She and others were flood-
Associated Press ed with questions from
residents during the Sua-
Continued from Front misinformation and far-right tion workers and the violent tisan investigation seeking mico town hall: How are
figures. Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the evidence of widespread absentee voters being vet-
It's among large swaths of Still, they press on, taking on U.S. Capitol. fraud. That probe that ted, are ballot drop boxes
the country where distrust the issue one community Polling from last summer by eventually landed before a secure, what's the differ-
of voting and ballot-count- event and one conversa- The Associated Press-NORC judge who declared that it ence between voter regis-
ing, fanned by former Presi- tion at a time, hoping for a Center for Public Affairs Re- had uncovered "absolutely trations and ballot request
dent Donald Trump's false half-step forward. search found that only 22% no evidence of election forms, are dead people
claims of a stolen election, "This state is vital, and it's of Republicans have high fraud." Instead, multiple au- and undocumented immi-
maintains a stubborn grasp. ground zero in this fight to confidence that votes in dits and recounts have af- grants voting? A meeting
Pytleski, who was born and save our republic," said the 2024 presidential elec- firmed Biden's 21,000-vote scheduled for three hours
raised in the county, hears Reid Ribble, a Republican tion will be counted accu- win in the state. Yet the stretched to five as resi-
conspiracy theories nearly who represented the area rately, compared to 71% doubt remains. dents lingered until 10:30
everywhere she goes: Dem- in Congress until 2017 and of Democrats, while a solid With Coke cans and paper at night. "I can't say for sure
ocrats are paying people to is an adviser to the non- majority of Republicans plates stacked with Pep- that we changed hearts
stuff ballot boxes with illegal profit Keep Our Republic. continue to believe Presi- peroni pizza slices, about and minds, but they were
votes, absentee voting al- The group is holding town dent Joe Biden's election 50 community members engaged, that's for sure,"
lows rampant fraud, voting hall-style forums through- win was illegitimate. piled into a fire station on a Bernier said.
machines are hacked by out Wisconsin hoping to re- The deep partisan divide recent evening in Suamico, The forum didn't seem to
foreign powers such as Rus- store faith in elections and comes amid a relent- a town of 13,000 that bor- budge several of those
sia or China. She receives has plans to do the same in less campaign of lies from ders Oconto County on the who showed up and have
skeptical letters and emails. two other states that will be Trump that the 2020 elec- shores of Lake Michigan, become deeply skeptical
Election denialism, she said, pivotal to next year's presi- tion was stolen as he seeks just outside Green Bay. of the election process.
"has gotten its hold on it." dential race, Michigan and a second term in the White Flanked on either side by One attendee, 79-year-old
For elections officials and Pennsylvania. House. U.S. and Wisconsin flags, Mary Verheyen, said she
grassroots democracy The group's efforts come as Wisconsin has been an epi- a panel of local officials trusted the election offi-
groups in the presidential paranoia around elections center of the efforts to un- brought together by Keep cials at the event but that it
swing state, it has been an has gained a persistent dermine faith in elections. Our Republic walked at- didn't make "any difference
uphill fight to combat the foothold across the coun- The state supreme court, tendees through the elec- at all" in her trust in the sys-
doubts and the people try, especially in rural areas. then with a conservative tion process, from how vot- tem as a whole.
who continue to spread That's led to attempts to majority, came within one ing equipment is tested to "I believe the people here
them. They describe grap- ditch voting machines in fa- vote in 2020 of overturning the process of certifying the think like I do and are doing
pling with an almost faith- vor of less accurate and ef- the presidential results, and results. "We're arming peo- their jobs," she said. "That
like pull of conspiracy theo- ficient hand counts, threats Republicans in the Legisla- ple with facts," said Kathy doesn't mean everyone
ries perpetuated by online of violence against elec- ture later launched a par- Bernier, state director of is."q