ATLANTA — The Carter Center funds networks of Republicans and Democrats working on election security in six states. These groups operate in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin to counter misinformation through direct community engagement.

The organization was founded by former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter. The initiative supports bipartisan leadership at the local level to address concerns about election integrity and process transparency.

Networks offer tours of vote processing centers and host cross-partisan conversations. These activities aim to provide voters with firsthand information about how ballots are counted and secured.

In Georgia, Jason Shepherd serves as a co-lead of the Georgia Democracy Resilience Network. He works alongside Rashad Richey, a Democrat who partners with him in the state effort. Shepherd has nearly 3,700 followers on X, where he engages with constituents on election topics.

Shepherd received violent threats for backing the 2020 election result. In 2021, someone threatened to shoot up the Cobb County Republican Party headquarters while Shepherd was chair. These incidents illustrate the risks faced by local officials who defend certified outcomes.

In Arizona, Ron Barber is a Democrat who co-leads the state’s resilience network. He served as a representative from 2012 until 2015 before taking on this civic role. Barber took legal action against armed men standing near ballot boxes during the 2022 midterms.

Don Henninger is an Arizona Republican who works alongside Ron Barber. Henninger testified in support of the 2020 election result despite political pressure. He also testified in support of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors certifying the 2022 election.

An independent investigation found that voting-equipment issues in Maricopa County were not intentional. This finding supported the certification process that Henninger and other local leaders defended. The collaboration between Barber and Henninger demonstrates the bipartisan nature of the network.

Supporters of Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This event occurred during a period of heightened tension over election results across the country. The Carter Center’s initiative seeks to build resilience against such disruptions through grassroots cooperation.

The Carter Center’s funding of cross-partisan networks in six states represents a structured effort to address election misinformation at the local level. By pairing Republican and Democratic leaders in states such as Georgia and Arizona, the initiative creates channels for dialogue that bypass national partisan divides. The involvement of figures like Jason Shepherd and Ron Barber, who have faced personal threats and legal challenges, reflects the tangible risks associated with defending election processes.

The networks’ activities, including tours of vote processing centers, provide voters with direct access to election infrastructure. This approach aims to replace speculation with observable facts about how votes are counted. The bipartisan testimony provided by leaders like Don Henninger in support of certified results offers a counter-narrative to claims of widespread fraud.

The initiative operates in a context where previous events, such as the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, have intensified scrutiny of election administration.

Why It Matters

The Carter Center's funding of bipartisan networks in six states establishes a structured local response to election misinformation following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack. By pairing figures like Jason Shepherd and Don Henninger, who have faced violent threats or political pressure for defending certified results, the initiative creates direct channels for cross-partisan dialogue. These efforts aim to replace speculation with observable facts through vote center tours and joint testimony, addressing the tangible risks local officials encounter when upholding election integrity.