Press Release: Many election officials subjected to unethical political pressure, want nonpartisan reform

[April 29, 2026]—Local election officials across the U.S. face political and ethical pressures that are damaging to their profession, underreported, and often structurally enabled. Most experienced officials respond with professionalism and self-imposed restraint. However, many worry that restraint is not a durable governance strategy, especially amid high turnover in the field and the risk that new entrants may be motivated by partisanship instead of impartiality in election administration. These and other findings were released today in a national research report, Ethical Frontlines: Impartiality Challenges Facing Local Election Officials, authored by the nonpartisan nonprofit Election Reformers Network.

Drawing on confidential interviews with local election officials (LEOs) in five key states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Washington, and Virginia), researchers found that many in the profession would welcome concrete legal and structural changes. Today’s report outlines a set of recommendations to mitigate the challenges LEOs face.

“Our interviewees faced pressure to validate partisan narratives, remain silent in the face of misinformation, or demonstrate party loyalty,” said ERN Vice President of Programs Heather Balas, a co-author of the report. “While they were only rarely asked to outright break the law, none of these types of pressures are acceptable—especially given declining voter trust.”

The reported pressures are not uniform; instead, they are shaped significantly by institutional design. Officials elected in partisan contests report the most intense pressures, while appointed officials face fewer direct demands but note that partisan dynamics can shift to the boards that oversee them. Across democratic nations, the U.S. stands out for embedding partisan incentives into election administration, thus failing to protect LEOs with clear structural guardrails that would mitigate ethical dilemmas.  

Despite these challenges, many LEOs demonstrate a strong commitment to professionalism and impartiality. Officials often take voluntary steps to distance themselves from partisan influence, such as running as independents, abstaining from political participation, or recusing themselves from sensitive duties when conflicts arise. In some states, some LEOs have even chosen not to vote to demonstrate their neutrality. However, these practices are largely informal and not publicly communicated, limiting their ability to build voter trust. Professional associations play a critical role in reinforcing norms and providing guidance, yet their capacity varies widely, and much of the existing ethics training remains narrowly focused on legal compliance rather than the real-world dilemmas officials face.

The report’s findings point to the need for stronger professional infrastructure, clearer ethical guardrails, and structural reforms to reduce partisan influence and support officials in their roles. Non-legislative examples include expanding the capacity of state associations, investing in more robust and scenario-based ethics training, and creating mechanisms for peer support and advisory guidance. Potential legislative reforms include: transitioning away from partisan election of officials, limiting or eliminating political fundraising and endorsements by election officials in races they oversee; formalizing recusal practices when officials are on the ballot; and reducing party control over election boards.

Commented ERN Executive Director Kevin Johnson, a co-author of the report, “Together, these reforms aim to insulate election officials from partisan pressure, eliminate risks of manipulation, and give every voter the demonstrably unbiased election administration they deserve.”

The full report—comprised of seven key findings and 12 national recommendations—is available for download at ERN’s website.

ELECTION REFORMERS NETWORK

Election Reformers Network (ERN) strengthens election governance through research, awareness building, and policy change. Drawing on decades of experience in the U.S. and abroad, the nonpartisan nonprofit organization works to prevent election manipulation, protect election results, and support election officials.

Contact: Heather Balas
info@electionreformers.org

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