Voter Information Archives - Election Reformers Network

Where Do Election Deniers Oversee Elections as Secretary of State?

November 16, 2022Al Vanderklipp

In the 2022 cycle, 28 states held elections to select their chief election official (usually the secretary of state). At least 33 candidates for these statewide offices ran while questioning or denying the results of the 2020 presidential election — raising questions about whether they would conduct their work impartially if elected. Many of...

What Happens if an Election is Close and Contested? An FAQ for Voters and Journalists

November 4, 2022Al Vanderklipp

Many of Tuesday's races are expected to be close. With partisan tensions running high and trust in elections low, it's crucial that voters and journalists are aware of the procedures that election administrators and the courts have in place to fairly resolve disputes. Understanding these steps can help ensure that results are broadly accepted as legitimate, even when...

Who Runs Elections in Each State? (MAP)

March 1, 2022Al Vanderklipp

The Chief Election Officer (CEO) in each state varies according to state law. Most commonly (in 38 states), this title applies to the Secretary of State. Thirty-one of these secretaries are elected; the other seven are appointed by a partisan body (the governor or state legislature). In 10 states, the CEO is appointed by, to,...

Nonpartisanship Works – Data and Resources

December 7, 2021Al Vanderklipp

See below for links to spreadsheets and documents containing all data used in Nonpartisanship Works: How Lessons from Canada Can Re-Establish Trust in U.S. Election Administration. Provincial and Territorial Statutes Chief Electoral Officer Duties and Powers Chief Electoral Officer Impartiality, Bars on Political Activity and Voting Chief Electoral Officer Appointment, Removal Chief Electoral Officer Term…

The Powers and Duties of Secretaries of State

December 3, 2021Al Vanderklipp

Though Secretaries of State are the chief election official in most states, the actual duties assigned to them in state constitutions and state electoral code vary widely. With these positions drawing hyper-partisan attention, it's reasonable to assume that at some point a secretary of state may attempt to influence, or even subvert, an election. However,...

Democratic Backsliding in the United States: A Negative Feedback Loop

November 18, 2021Al Vanderklipp

This presentation was created for Georgetown University's Masters in Democracy and Governance program's November 18, 2021 webinar. A full recording of the event can be found at this link. Download the Presentation Download [11.78 MB]

Which States Have Election Boards or Commissions?

April 29, 2021Al Vanderklipp

As a result of the decentralized nature of elections in the United States, election administration structures vary greatly state-by-state. In ten states the state-level leadership is the responsibility of an election board or commission (simplified as “board” hereafter). In 31 states an individual has this responsibility, most often an elected secretary of state. The nine...

Ropes & Gray Secretary of State Conflict of Interest Analysis

September 18, 2020Al Vanderklipp

This study was a comprehensive, state-by-state assessment of conflict of interest law as applied to potential secretary of state conflict of interest conducted pro bono for Election Reformers Network by the law firm of Ropes & Gray. A team of two Ropes & Gray lawyers and 22 summer associates conducted the 169-page review for Election...

Guardrails for the Guardians – Data and Resources

September 7, 2020Al Vanderklipp

See below for links to spreadsheets and documents containing all data used in Guardrails for the Guardians: Reducing Secretary of State Conflict of Interest and Building a More Impartial U.S. Election Administration. December 2020 NANR Presentation Read the 2020 breakout presentation for the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers Conference here. Figures from Report Figures, charts,…