WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. election system is one of the most decentralized in the world, with election administration varying significantly across state and local jurisdictions.
To offer a clear and comprehensive overview of election administration from both state-to-state and national perspectives, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission today released the report Helping America Vote: Election Administration in the United States, an in-depth resource detailing the policies and practices that govern elections across the nation.
This new guide provides insights into the complexities of election administration, offering a broad look at policies and procedures that govern how Americans cast their votes. Covering topics from districting and candidate filing to ballot casting and post-election audits, this publication serves as an essential tool for policymakers, election officials and the public.
The report is divided into three parts:
- Before the Election: Chapters 1-7 cover the decentralized structure of election administration, including candidate filing, voter registration and ballot design.
- During the Election: Chapters 8-14 cover the voting process, including voter ID requirements and methods of voting, whether it’s in person or by mail.
- After the Election: Chapters 15-19 cover post-election procedures, such as counting and certification.
Each chapter includes policy considerations, implementation, considerations, voter perspectives and practical considerations and resources. By offering a state-by-state perspective within a national framework, the guide highlights both unique and shared practices of election administration across the states.
NCSL and the EAC extend their gratitude to election officials, including election administrators, county clerks and auditors, across the country whose expertise and on-the-ground experience helped inform this report.
Download the complete report, Helping America Vote: Election Administration in the United States.
A limited number of print copies are available upon request for election officials and state lawmakers.
Contact:
Mick Bullock, NCSL Public Affairs Director
Uyen Vong, NCSL Public Affairs Associate Director
Email: [email protected]
Pressroom: www.ncsl.org/press-room
About the U.S. Election Assistance Commission:
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring safe, secure, accurate, and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. The EAC also accredits testing laboratories, certifies voting systems, and administers HAVA funds. For more information, visit eac.gov.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.