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.
America’s election rules let partisan officials act as referees. Learn why this hidden conflict of interest threatens trust—and what reforms can fix it.
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.
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.
President Trump's March 25 executive order on elections illustrates how far we have fallen behind democratic standards. In no other major democracy would the head of government change election rules by decree, as Trump has attempted to do.