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‘No Time to Fail’ — An empathetic look at the people who make elections work

Political Theater, Episode 268

A poll worker places social distancing markers outside of 
a voting center in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27, 2020. The new film "No Time to Fail" chronicles the work of Rhode Island election workers during 2020, and its directors joined the Political Theater podcast to discuss their documentary.
A poll worker places social distancing markers outside of a voting center in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27, 2020. The new film "No Time to Fail" chronicles the work of Rhode Island election workers during 2020, and its directors joined the Political Theater podcast to discuss their documentary. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

There has never been a better time to see how elections work. With intense interest in campaigns, and with the foundations of representative democracy at stake, filmmakers Sara Archambault and Margo Guernsey have brought us “No Time to Fail,” a behind-the-scenes look at the 2020 election that chronicles the experiences of election officials in Rhode Island, from the state level to the cities of Providence, Cranston and Central Falls.

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, disinformation and threats spurred by former President Donald Trump’s baseless accusations of fraud, the documentary shows how public servants ensure voters are able to participate in the American experiment.

Show Notes:

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