In the fall, Arizona State University will be launching its new Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory. Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates will direct research there.
Gates was among the county leaders who received death threats following the 2020 and 2022 elections due to false allegations — spread by some far-right candidates and voters — of mass election fraud in Maricopa County.
The severity led him to not seek reelection to the Board of Supervisors.
At the laboratory, Gates says he wants to correct disinformation through public education and to urge students to seek positions running elections.
Gates will also be teaching courses on how elections work at the state and local levels.
“It’s important that people understand how it works, can separate truth from fiction and also, like I said, can train that next generation to get into elections which is really, you know, the foundation of our democracy," he said.
Gates is still building the curriculum for the classes.
"It’ll be an opportunity for folks to learn how our election system works. And not only that, not only understanding the nuts and bolts of it but for example getting media training," Gates said.
