POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS Civic Health

Elections

The COVID-19 pandemic served as both a laboratory for voting reform and an inflection point in public trust of the nation’s current voting systems. Democrat and Republican policymakers worked together to administer elections in 2020 unlike any most states had ever seen and expand options for voting in the process. Bipartisan efforts were made in many states to pass legislation that codified these enfranchising voting reforms into standard practice. Yet, at the same time, an unprecedented number of Americans still believe a conspiracy theory that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen,” and as a result, trust in voting systems at all levels of government remains low for some Americans and the leaders who represent them.

In order to correct negative trends in voter confidence, a policy response is needed. Voting is a central tenant to the United States' most novel contribution to the modern world: the peaceful transition of power. To keep that peace and ensure representative government survives the test of time in this country, policymakers will need to employ new tactics to inspire trust in state voting systems and make every citizen’s vote a meaningful reflection of their political priorities.

5. The Council of State Governments could explore working with the National Association of Secretaries of State to create an Elections Best Practices report that communicates efforts made by secretaries of state that successfully expand voting access, strengthen electoral security and increase public trust in the electoral system. This report may be disseminated to leaders nationwide, across all three branches of state government.

6. All state policymakers and elections officials can strive to make voting as accessible, convenient and secure as possible within the context of their election systems.

7. States can consider creating bipartisan election advisory groups or committees to improve public education, combat misinformation/ disinformation/malinformation and recommend strategies to build voter trust.

8. States can investigate and invest in youth engagement activities that encourage future electoral participation and familiarize youth with the mechanics of the state’s election system (e.g., process, voting machines, and system safeguards against fraud).

9. States can investigate, invest in and share best practices on activities with elections personnel that help the public engage more directly with the voting system, the voting process, and the mechanics of voting.

Civic Health Subcommittee Members

ƒ Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine, Co-chair

ƒ Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohio, Co-chair

ƒ Justice Alisa Kelli Wise, Alabama

ƒ Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, California

ƒ Senior Adviser Tommy Druen, Kentucky

ƒ Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois

ƒ Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Massachusetts

ƒ Sen. Joan Lovely, Massachusetts

ƒ Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico

ƒ Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, New York

ƒ Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island

ƒ Sen. Jennifer Boysko, Virginia

ƒ Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, Utah