Looking back on an enormously busy and productive year, Athena Strategies is very thankful for all our friends and partners and their great work in 2024, and we are very proud of our efforts to support election officials and strengthen election processes. And we especially want to thank election workers yet again for their continued unparalleled dedication to our democracy year after year!
Below are some of our 2024 year in review highlights:
- In the 1st quarter,
- Kathy was pleased to sign on to an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court by the Brennan Center for Justice on behalf of a bi-partisan group of current and former election officials, advocating the importance of government officials’ ability to communicate with social media about threats and inaccurate information online.
- She was proud to join the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Election Science Task Force, bringing together experts working to strengthen our electoral system and augment the role of science.
- She was interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer about the continuing spread of disinformation and efforts to destroy voters’ faith in our electoral system, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about her work with the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) to strengthen protections for election officials and voters.
- In the 2nd quarter,
- Kathy was honored to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from American University Washington College of Law, recognizing her groundbreaking career and unwavering commitment to election security, public service, and justice.
- She was privileged to be invited to Ireland to discuss global threats to democracy with key officials, at the invitation of the U.S. Department of State, where she participated in numerous events and meetings, sharing international challenges and strategies for combating them.
- Kathy helped organize and participated in an Election Law and Policy legal education course for the PA Bar Institute, covering voting rights for voters with disabilities, federal and state litigation, AI, disinformation, and election threats.
- In the 3rd quarter,
- Kathy was honored to present to legislators about the challenges and promises of AI at the Future Caucus’s 2024 Summit, and channeled tremendous energy from speaking with hundreds of engaged college students and alumni at The Washington Center’s Distinguished Speakers Series.
- CSSE completed law enforcement pocket reference guides for all 50 states, containing key state provisions to help protect election officials and voters from violence and intimidation.
- Kathy appeared on Diane Macedo from ABC News Live discussing anticipated issues that might occur before, during, and after Election Day; on Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, discussing what happens after the polls close; and on CNN about the security and integrity of our election processes.
- In the 4th quarter,
- Kathy spoke at a press conference on the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act, critical legislation to protect election workers and voters from intimidation and threats.
- She joined CBS News’ America Decides to provide insights into PA’s ballot-counting and election certification process; Ballotpedia’s On the Ballot podcast, exploring election security and the pernicious divisiveness facing the nation; and CBS News, outlining potential election challenges and spotlighting the dedication of election workers- the “unsung heroes” of our elections- for their unwavering commitment to ensuring every one of us can vote.
- Kathy spoke with the New York Times about suspicious voter registration forms submitted in a few counties, emphasizing they were not ballots as some had falsely claimed, and describing the many guardrails that ensure only eligible voters can vote; and with NPR dissecting false narratives being resurrected about the 2020 election, and reinforcing the importance of expanding public understanding of how elections work in the U.S.
As we take a moment to reflect on 2024, we also look ahead with determination for what is to come. We remain dedicated to advancing election security and democracy in the year ahead. Here’s to a healthy and happy holiday, and an impactful new year.
