Protect Democracy warns 2024 election faces threats

Ian Bassin, co-founder of the nonprofit Protect Democracy, says the 2024 election could be the most consequential in modern U.S. history. In an interview with Religion News Service, he warns that the stakes are existential—not just for politics, but for the survival of democratic norms. “This is not a drill,” Bassin said. “The threats to free and fair elections are real, coordinated, and escalating.”

The warning comes after years of rising political violence, legal attacks on voting rights, and efforts to manipulate election processes. Since 2020, Protect Democracy has tracked over 400 bills in state legislatures aimed at restricting voting access or giving state officials power to override election results. Bassin points to the January 6 Capitol riot as evidence of how far some will go to overturn an election they lost. He argues that the current moment is unlike previous elections because of the scale of disinformation, the weaponization of election administration, and the erosion of public trust in institutions.

Bassin points to recent polling that shows nearly 40% of Americans believe violence may be justified to “save” the country. He cites the case of former President Donald Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud in 2020 and his ongoing efforts to cast doubt on the 2024 vote. “We’re not just talking about bad policy anymore,” Bassin said. “We’re talking about people actively trying to sabotage the machinery of democracy.” His group has documented at least 10 states where election deniers now hold key positions overseeing elections.

What happens next could determine whether democracy survives in its current form. Bassin calls for stronger civic education, transparent election processes, and legal safeguards to prevent interference. He also urges voters to reject candidates who refuse to commit to accepting election results. “Freedom isn’t guaranteed,” he said. “It’s something we have to fight for every single day—and especially in the next 18 months.”