On July 12, Ruth Weiss, Vice Chairman of the Election Integrity Project®California (EIPCa), expressed cautious optimism about the fairness of elections in California and across the United States during a community event in Orange County. Weiss emphasized that while progress has been made, significant efforts are still required in the journey ahead.
Weiss highlighted that EIPCa, a non-partisan non-profit organization composed of volunteers in California, has been diligently documenting election data, observing the voting and ballot handling process on-site. By 2025, the organization had accumulated 15 years worth of election records. Weiss noted that the organization has submitted testimonies and evidence of election irregularities, with all information meeting legal standards and undergoing scrutiny in courts. This data has been provided to federal, state, and local officials, as well as legal professionals and the general public.
“We have presented evidence to various courts, but the judicial system has not always been in our favor. However, we continue to do our best,” Weiss said. EIPCa indeed submitted a writ of mandate application to the courts, requesting officials to fulfill their election duties.
Previously, EIPCa presented their recorded data to the Secretary of State and the Registrar of Voters in Los Angeles County seeking clarification. However, the Secretary of State responded that they only engage with individual voters, while the Registrar of Voters in Los Angeles County remained unresponsive.
“As a civil organization, we lack the authority to bring criminal lawsuits, but candidates who have been affected can press charges,” Weiss explained. “One voter filed an application in a personal capacity, and the Secretary of State’s response stated they are not obligated to answer our questions, as election regulations pertain only to voters interacting with officials at polling stations.”
Weiss mentioned the “Save America Act” (H.R. 7296) in Congress, which passed the House of Representatives but faced obstacles in the Senate. The act mandates citizens to provide proof of American citizenship and photo identification when registering and voting in federal elections.
The House Administration Committee, led by Chairman Mike Johnson, received 15 years of data from EIPCa and advocated for electoral reform at the federal level. Following this, lawmakers began pushing the “Make Elections Great Again Act” (MEGA Act).
The MEGA Act incorporates 15 legislative points from the original proposal, with EIPCa hoping for the inclusion of two additional points. These 17 points encompass transparency throughout the election process, requirements for voter registration, measures to enhance election security, and addressing inconsistencies in overseas voting, among others.
Weiss also discussed the intervention of the Department of Justice, which deployed approximately 250 agents to Fulton County, Georgia for an investigation. Additionally, the “Election Integrity Network” in the U.S. developed an Election Demo Manual, emphasizing the need to verify voter participation data before confirming election results.
Federal authorities are said to be listening to public opinions and taking action. The Department of Homeland Security annually allocates billions of dollars to states, with a current mandatory requirement for states to allocate 3% of total funds towards election security. Furthermore, 20% of funds are withheld until states meet specific criteria, including audits, verification of voter lists, and ensuring election personnel are U.S. citizens.
Weiss explained that in California, a 1% random sampling of ballots is manually counted as required, while the request for cross-referencing voter rolls with federal citizenship information was rejected by the state due to a law passed in 2013 allowing non-citizens to work at polling stations.
Weiss emphasized the importance of collaboration among election integrity organizations in California, stressing that no single group holds all the answers. He urged for unity, mutual respect, and the convergence of various perspectives, evidence, and data analyses to bring about meaningful change.
“Each one of us holds a piece of the puzzle, and only through genuine cooperation and respect can we truly make a difference,” Weiss concluded. “I ask everyone, what can you do? If you can’t do more, I hope you can maintain a sense of ‘righteous anger’ as it can be the driving force behind your actions.”