January 28, 2026
America’s Top Election Referees Need More Support
Strengthening election governance in a high-stakes election year
Strengthening election governance in a high-stakes election year
As 2026 dawns, another year of all-consuming politics has begun in America. To reduce polarization and ensure fairness for all, we need to fix the rules of democracy.
Election Reformers Network’s Board Chair reflects on South Africa's 1994 election ending apartheid, and what it teaches us about American democracy today.
In 2026, dozens of secretaries of state across the country — including Jocelyn Benson in Michigan — will be on the ballot while overseeing the very elections they administer. That fact alone should not trigger federal oversight. ✅ As we outline in our latest commentary, what matters more is transparency and clear evaluation of conflicts of interest — not knee-jerk federal intervention.
Nonpartisan election administration remains an unfinished project
ERN's Kevin Johnson shares insights from his experience monitoring elections abroad, and reflects on how we can build a stronger democracy in the US.
California’s Prop 50 shows why fair redistricting matters. A few more seats won’t save democracy if the system itself stays rigged.
In a time when our democracy is under threat, increasing polarization represents a growing risk to the nonpartisan functioning of local election boards—which are the frontlines of our democracy. This proposal offers an innovative new structure for local election boards that would encourage greater neutrality while still allowing efficient decision making.
ERN issues commentary denouncing the U.S. State Department's reversal of 40-years of policies supporting free and fair elections abroad.
This discussion draft is for the National Steering Committee on Trusted Elections.