The Opportunity for Election Governance Reform

The Opportunity in Election Governance Reform

The Problem

Polarization is exposing the flaws in America’s unique approach to election governance. Partisan-elected or partisan-appointed people lead oversight of elections and ballot measures in all states, putting voter confidence and fairness at risk. As the political imperative to win at all costs intensifies, secretaries of state, election board members, and others face growing partisan pressures. Voters see blatant conflicts of interest and abuses of power from those in charge, exacerbating fears that the system is rigged. Institutional weaknesses help parties entrench themselves in power in many states, free from accountability to the people.

Focus for Reform

Election Reformers Network prioritizes four key opportunities for strengthening election governance: 

1. Partisan control of ballot measures
2. Partisan-selected secretaries of state
3. Party-controlled results verification
4. Party-dominated election boards

Governance reform efforts are already combating gerrymandering, based on core principles that can guide reform in the areas above. These principles include neutrality toward election outcomes, involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, and removal of political party control over election governance positions.

‍In the aftermath of 2024, election governance reform is the most direct and promising path to strengthen the pillars of democracy in the near term. Benefits to this approach include:

• It enables other reforms by removing unfairness in the ballot measures process, a critical pathway for many elements of the national reform agenda (redistricting, primary reform, etc.).‍
• Near-term nonpartisan wins are likely; initiatives are already in process in key states and polling shows bipartisan support for these types of reforms. Additionally, bipartisan majorities voted for ballot initiative protection in Arizona, Colorado, and North Dakota in 2024.‍
• Citizen trust can be rebuilt through visibly neutral election management.‍
• Risks of abuse of power reduce when states strengthen democratic fairness in election management.

We can authentically put country before party; focusing on election governance reform reduces duopoly power, strengthens democratic culture, and counters polarization.‍

Learn More

ERN’s online library of our own election governance resources

ERN’s collection of external advocacy for these reforms