Election Interference

Extracted Attributes

• Definition

  Efforts to change the outcome of an election by illegitimate means

• Intervention Methods

  Backing a preferred party or candidate, harming electoral chances of another, elevating disruptive candidates, exacerbating polarization through misinformation/disinformation

• Legal Authority (US)

  31 CFR Part 579 - Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections Sanctions Regulations

• Types of Interference

  Electoral fraud, Vote buying, Voter impersonation, Foreign electoral intervention, Illegal electioneering, Recruiting candidates with similar names, Misuse of public funds

• Scholar on Interventions

  Dov Levin, Carnegie Mellon University political scholar

• Historical Precedence (US)

  Attempts by foreign agents to sway elections during the presidency of George Washington

• US Interventions (1946-2000)

  More than 80 campaigns abroad

• Intervention Methods (Covert vs. Overt)

  Majority (68%) of US/Russia interventions (1946-2000) were covert

• Russian/Soviet Interventions (1946-2000)

  At least 36 international elections

Timeline

• Russian operatives interfered in the United States presidential election to bolster Donald Trump's campaign. (Source: Wikipedia, Web Search)

  2016

• Executive Order 13848, 'Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election,' was issued. (Source: Web Search)

  2018-09-12

• Chinese government interference in the Canadian federal elections. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2019

• Russian interference in the United States elections. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2020

• Chinese government interference in the Canadian federal elections. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2021

• Foreign interference, including Russian and Iranian, in the United States elections. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2024

Election interference

Election interference generally refers to efforts to change the outcome of an election, especially by illegitimate means. Kinds of election interference may include: Electoral fraud, illegal interference with the process of an election Vote buying, when a political party or candidate distributes money to a voter with the expectation that they will vote for them Voter impersonation, when an eligible voter votes more than once or a non-eligible voter votes under the name of an eligible one Foreign electoral intervention, attempts by governments to influence elections in another country Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections Chinese government interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections Russian interference in the 2020 United States elections Foreign interference in the 2024 United States elections Iranian interference in the 2024 United States elections Russian interference in the 2024 United States elections Illegal electioneering, such as campaigning or wearing political apparel too close to a polling place Recruiting candidates with identical or similar names to an existing one, intended to confuse voters Where prohibited, the use of public funds to persuade voters to vote in a certain way

Web Search Results

• Election Interference: Overview | Research Starters - EBSCO

  Election interference refers to the actions taken by a nation to disrupt or influence the electoral processes of another sovereign nation. This phenomenon has historical precedence, with examples dating back to the early days of American politics, including attempts by foreign agents to sway elections during the presidency of George Washington. The issue gained significant attention during the 2016 U.S. presidential election when Russian operatives interfered to bolster Donald Trump's campaign, [...] Electoral interference occurs when one nation acts to disrupt or influence the electoral process of another sovereign nation. There are many examples from history of foreign nations interfering in the American electoral process, and the United States has likewise intervened in foreign elections in an effort to advantage the United States in trade or diplomatic relations. [...] Between 1946 and 2000, a period extending slightly beyond the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union (the forerunner of modern Russia), the United States undertook more than eighty election interference campaigns abroad, according to Carnegie Mellon University political scholar Dov Levin. By Levin’s count, Russia sought to interfere in at least three dozen international elections during that time. Some Cold War–era campaigns were covert while others were open. US efforts in the

• [PDF] Election Interference: Overview - EBSCO Information Services

  Election Interference: Overview Introduction Electoral interference occurs when one nation acts to disrupt or influence the electoral process of another sovereign nation. There are many examples from history of foreign nations interfering in the American electoral process, and the United States has likewise intervened in foreign elections in an effort to advantage the United States in trade or diplomatic relations. [...] The issue of foreign electoral interference became more controversial beginning with the 2016 US presidential election, during which Russian state agents interfered in the election to support the candidacy of Donald Trump. Although the full impact of this interference remained unclear, it appeared that the Russian government felt that a Trump victory would make the United States less likely to intervene or interfere with Russia’s aggressive, colonialist foreign policy aims. [...] Between 1946 and 2000, a period extending slightly beyond the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union (the forerunner of modern Russia), the United States undertook more than eighty election interference campaigns abroad, according to Carnegie Mellon University political scholar Dov Levin. By Levin’s count, Russia sought to interfere in at least three dozen international elections during that time. Some Cold War–era campaigns were covert while others were open. US efforts in the

• Foreign Interference in a United States Election Sanctions

  The Foreign Interference in a United States Election Sanctions program represents the implementation of multiple legal authorities. Some of these authorities are in the form of an executive order issued by the President. Other authorities are public laws (statutes) passed by The Congress. These authorities are further codified by OFAC in its regulations which are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Modifications to these regulations are posted in the Federal Register. [...] Certain activities related to the Foreign Interference in a United States Election Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Below OFAC has issued guidance and statements on specific licensing policies as they relate to the Foreign Interference in a United States Election Sanctions. [...] #### Executive Orders 13848 - Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election (September 12, 2018) #### Statutes International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706 National Emergencies Act (NEA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1651 #### Code of Federal Regulations 31 CFR Part 579 - Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections Sanctions Regulations #### Federal Register Notices

• Safeguarding Democracy: Navigating the Complex Landscape of ...

  Elections in Europe and around the world are increasingly subjected to malicious foreign interference, facilitated in part by the rise and increased use of digital tools and social media platforms. Recent national elections in Europe, as well as the 2019 European Parliamentary elections, proved susceptible to interference designed to erode confidence in electoral outcomes and drive political polarization and social tensions. [...] By Kofi Annan Foundation ###### Share this post Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Email this Page When it comes to foreign interference in elections, a precise definition of “interference” is still absent. The most urgent need for clarification on what constitutes acceptable versus illegitimate interference concerns the digital space and online activities. Here, we detail six activities that, when present, can be used to define ‘unacceptable electoral interference.’ [...] Since the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age (KACEDDA) identified this challenge in 2020, many countries have taken steps to identify and respond to malicious foreign interference. However, due to its opaque nature, a specific definition of interference is still absent. It also remains true that Governments routinely seek to influence each other’s affairs – including the management and potential outcome of elections- by means of lobbying, public communications,

• Foreign electoral intervention - Wikipedia

  Foreign electoral interventions (FEI) are attempts by a government to influence the elections of another country. Common methods include backing a preferred party or candidate, harming the electoral chances of another party or candidate, elevating the power or voice of disruptive candidates, or exacerbating overall polarization through amplifying or disseminating misinformation or disinformation. [...] Among 938 "competitive national level executive elections" examined by Levin from 1946 to 2000, the United States intervened in 81 foreign elections, while the Soviet Union or Russia intervened in 36 foreign elections. Combining these figures, the U.S. and Russia (including the Soviet Union) thus intervened in 117 of 938 competitive elections during this period—about one in nine—with the majority of those interventions (some 68%) being through covert, rather than overt, actions. [...] by foreign officials, offering preferential trade terms, or revealing legally held but damaging information about a party or candidate.