Election Reform Task Force: Wingspread

Statement from April 10-12 Wingspread Conference on Election Reform

Fundamental faith in American democracy depends on well-run elections. The election system in America works extremely well and election officials continue to be committed to maintaining and improving the process through state and local governments.

On April 10-12, 2001, at The Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center, representatives of the following organizations met together for the first time to explore common concerns and identify points of consensus.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
The National Association of Counties (NACo)
The National Association of State Election Directors (NASED)
The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)
The National Association of County Recorders, Elections Officials and Clerks (NACRC)
The International Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT)
The International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC)
The Election Center

These eight organizations are, independently, in the midst of addressing the issues associated with election reform and expect, over the next several months, to report our conclusions to our members and the public. We encourage the U.S. Congress to consider the recommendations of these organizations before federal action. States have traditionally been responsible for elections and we encourage the U.S. Congress not to adopt a national solution for what has been a state and local responsibility.

We agree to the following statements:

The system must be fair to all voters. All jurisdictions should make every effort to ensure the equal treatment of all voters.
We are committed to making every reasonable accommodation in order to ensure the right to vote for elderly and disabled Americans.
States need to establish, either through legislation or administrative rules, with input from local election officials:

--coordinated state-wide databases of voter rolls

--state-wide standards for what constitutes a vote by system

--state-wide standards for voting recounts

State election officials should gather data on rates of over and under votes and other relevant information to provide base-line data and to identify potential problems in the system.
Well-trained and committed election day workers are critical to the election system and voter confidence. Election officials should continue to develop creative and proactive methods for recruiting and training election day workers.
Election jurisdictions should make every effort to increase voter awareness regarding when, where, and how to register and to vote.
Congress should provide sustained funding for the Office of Election Administration to update and maintain voting system standards (including both technical and operational standards) and to resume its data collection and research service.
States are in the best position to evaluate their own needs. Therefore, if federal funding to states is proposed, funds should be applicable to a variety of needs on a block grant basis.
Any federal funding provided for the purpose of voter education should be generic and universal; it should not be targeted for any specific group.
To fully implement congressional intent of the National Voter Registration Act (1993), Congress should fund a new discount rate for official election mail.

This statement is not one of policy or position, nor is it binding upon any of the individual organizations represented. The participants consider these statements as areas of commonality and understanding, to be used by each organization, as it deems advisable, to assist in the organization's study and individual work product.
For more information on the Elections Reform Task Force:

Tim Storey or Jennie Drage (303) 364-7700
or Susan Frederick (202) 624-3566