Alexis Giannoulias: “Trump’s rhetoric endangers lives at the polling stations” –

THE Alexis Giannoulias became known in Greece when he came to play as a guard in the Panioni basketball team. He made his debut in politics next to Barack Obama and today he’s the Illinois Secretary of the Interior, a position from which, as a good… guard, he helps Democrats score points against Donald Trump‘s MAGA movement.

The state secretary of the interior formally certifies the election result in each state. Since the release of the 2020 audio of Trump pressuring Georgia’s secretary of the interior to “help him find” 11,780 votes, has an additional weight fallen on the post?

“Each Secretary of the Interior (the post exists in 47 of the 50 States) has different duties. But let’s be clear, electoral legitimacy conspiracies do not affect the responsibilities of office. Some conspiracy-minded radicals, like those in Georgia, tried to change the electoral process but the courts put the brakes on them.”

Republicans have placed election deniers in polling places to “record” and create “evidence” of election irregularities. Can a marginal election result lead to a political crisis?

“We have a candidate who was complicit in trying to cause a constitutional crisis on January 6, 2021. Since neither he nor his running mate are clearly answering whether they will accept the election result, there is cause for concern. We experienced a potential constitutional crisis in 2000, but then Vice President Al Gore put the country and American democracy above his political ambitions. Donald Trump has neither the character nor the patriotism to do such a thing.”

In light of the court cases and tensions surrounding the election, do you think there is a need for reform?

“Clearly everyone learned lessons from 2020. And since each State separately manages the elections, each takes its own measures. The past two years have seen special task forces, more election workers and volunteers, and increased security at the polls. Election officials are better equipped to combat misinformation. The only one who didn’t learn anything from 2020 is Trump. His rhetoric is endangering the lives of polling station workers. Even Republican officials face threats because of him. Federal action to combat misinformation is absolutely necessary. Election officials, therefore, must be vigilant and the federal government must provide them with support when needed.”

Why is it so difficult to find common ground between Democrats and Republicans on measures like ID cards that would increase trust in the process without discouraging participation?

“Electoral fraud is in any case unacceptable and illegal. Your question, however, ignores the fact that they are extremely rare. After the 2020 election, The Associated Press contacted local election officials in six states and found only 475 possible cases of fraud on more than 25 million ballots. Lawsuits for electoral fraud have repeatedly failed. But we should not underestimate the efforts to deny the right to participate in voting. We must be constantly vigilant to protect electoral rights.”

You were named national co-chair of Men4Choice, an organization that mobilizes men in support of free access to abortion. Do you think the abortion issue will sway voters in swing states?

“The overturning of the constitutional right to abortion not only prevented a ‘red tide’ but also brought unprecedented gains to Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections. The issue remains important to a large number of voters, as the constitutional overturn was followed by draconian measures in many states. The national abortion ban will be decided in this election, and a second Trump administration will seek to overturn additional constitutional rights.”