This week, ERN’s Executive Director Kevin Johnson joined Derek Monson, Executive Director of the Sutherland Institute, to support first-in-the-nation legislation in Utah that would establish clear ethical guardrails for county clerks and the chief election officer.
VP of Programs Heather Balas led ERN's first-ever ethics training for local officials in Colorado.
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.
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.
