Lunch & Learn:

2026 Election Security Briefing--Keeping Voters and Ballots Safe

What are the real risks of political violence in North Carolina—and how are they being managed? Join us for a Lunch & Learn webinar with Tom Baker IV, a leading expert working within the state’s election safety and threat monitoring infrastructure, on Wednesday, May 13 beginning at noon (the Zoom webinar will open at 11:45 AM with a waiting room).

Tom will draw on more than 15 years of experience—from supporting elections overseas to advising U.S. election security efforts—to explain how threats are identified and defused, what trends are emerging, and why our voting systems remain secure in North Carolina.

Get a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at how North Carolina is responding in a time of heightened tension and how our state can be prepared for issues of political violence before November's general elections.

Statement:

The Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service and the North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe & Secure Elections condemns the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. 

We are grateful that the President, administration officials, Congressional leaders, members of the press, and other dignitaries are safe. We acknowledge the work of law enforcement, from the local and national levels, who worked to bring the situation to a rapid conclusion and for putting themselves into potential harm. 

Six out of ten North Carolinians say political violence is never justified when used to oppose “the government when it does not share my beliefs or values.” This opinion is shared across North Carolina’s political spectrum, reflecting a broad and bipartisan commitment to resolving our differences peacefully and through democratic means.

While the investigation is still underway, we urge all Americans and North Carolinians—regardless of political affiliation—to reject the use of political violence in any form. At a time of deep political disagreement, we must remain united in the belief that violence has no place in our public life. 

Our democracy depends on the ability to debate and disagree vigorously while respecting the rule of law and one another. Leaders, institutions, and citizens alike share a responsibility to uphold these principles.

You can read the statement on the Center's Substack account at https://substack.com/@ncpoliticscenter

We Want Your Feedback!

The Center for N.C. Politics & Public Service, in partnership with the Carter Center, is looking for your feedback on how we can improve what we offer to our members.

If you have 5-7 minutes to take this anonymous survey, it would help us better understand our audience in this Democracy Resilience Network.

You can find the survey at this link:

"SPOT THE BOT" Lunch & Learn Webinar now available

The Center's April Lunch & Learn Webinar on "Spot the Bot: How to spot fake accounts and sort fact from fiction in social media" with Torry Crass is now available to view on the Center's YouTube Channel.

As the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for NC and for the NC State Board of Elections, Torry helped viewers to build resilience in their digital habits, particular on how to recognize fake accounts, foreign interference, and misinformation in various forms during this hour-long lunch and learn.

Torry noted that our US Senate race will likely bring a lot of misleading campaign ads and interference over the summer, and also looked more broadly at threats and the tools the average person can use to recognize and avoid being manipulated by bots or even drawn into fraudulent schemes.

Watch the Lunch & Learn Webinar and share with your networks at:

You can find the N.C. Politics Center on various social media platforms:

• Center Website: https://catawba.edu/ncpoliticscenter/
• Substack: https://ncpoliticscenter.substack.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ncpolitics
• Blog: https://www.OldNorthStatePolitics.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncpoliticspublicservice
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ncpolitics.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncpolitics_center/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-nc-politics/
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/ncpolitics_ctr

Please join the N.C. Politics Center on your favorite social media platform for more information. Thanks for your interest in the Center for N.C. Politics & Public Service.

Dr. Michael Bitzer

Director, Center for N.C. Politics & Public Service

Professor of Politics & History

Catawba College

The Hon. Jennifer Roberts

Senior Advisor

The Hon. Robert (Bob) Orr

Senior Consultant