Why We Vote Ep. 131: Hand Counts, Chain of Custody, and the Battle for Election Integrity

In this Independence Day episode, Ashe in America and CannCon dive headfirst into the latest election integrity battles. They explore the Department of Justice’s unprecedented move to withhold federal election funds from Wisconsin over compliance failures and debate whether the Help America Vote Act is toothless or transformational. The hosts break down the Arkansas controversy where Searcy County’s entire election board was suspended for 18 years over an 11-vote discrepancy and an “improper” equipment donation during a hand count.

CannCon and Ashe analyze Maricopa County’s push for precinct-level hand counts, Colorado’s vast data request from the DOJ, and the panic it triggered among election officials. They also tackle the fiery congressional hearing where Rep. Greg Stanton clashed with Kari Lake over alleged lies and the suppression of chain-of-custody evidence. Wrapping up, they dig into a CIA whistleblower’s claims about Venezuela’s role in election meddling and weigh the credibility of a last-minute plea deal. Packed with constitutional debate, historical reflections, and plenty of dark humor, this episode challenges everything you think you know about modern elections.