Election Reformers Network

"Crises averted" doesn't make headlines but explains why foreign aid is totally worthwhile, as Brian Atwood explains in this great column. Brian ran USAID under Clinton and serves on the Election Reformers Network's Advisory Council. Systems that helped the US prevent 20 million famine deaths in Africa are now being shut down by DOGE. That's pennywise but dollars-and-humanity-stupid. "Crisis averted" is also a great reason to support the election reforms we champion at ERN!

ONE in FIVE ballot propositions is overturned or amended in the U.S. Our new report documents the extent of partisan manipulation and meddling in ballot initiative propositions and processes. #goodgovernance #partisan #ballotpropositions #citizens

Giving Tuesday isn't over! There's still time to help us meet our matching goal of $75,000! This is the ideal time to support a better, fairer, and voters-first democracy! https://lnkd.in/gzRPuK6k

It’s Giving Tuesday, and thanks to the generosity of lead donors, we launched a $70,000 Matching Challenge to amplify your impact… with $45,000 already matched, we need your help TODAY to unlock the remaining $25,000 by December 31st! On this global day of giving, we are reaching out to you with a sincere plea – help us build better systems to put voters like you first in our election systems… not the political parties! Every dollar brings us closer to our goal! https://lnkd.in/gbGAQ3WQ

The National Steering Committee for Trusted Elections, which includes The Carter Center, the Gerald R. Ford Foundation, and former White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, among many others, released a statement encouraging 'continued civic engagement to protect democratic institutions and norms' today. https://bit.ly/48FVRZU

Op-ed from ERN's Kevin Johnson and Alex Keyssar on the implications of an electoral college tie. "It’s the worst-case presidential election scenario — a 269–269 tie in the Electoral College. In our hyper-competitive political era,?such a scenario, though still unlikely, is becoming increasingly plausible, and we need to grapple with its implications." https://bit.ly/4fbIpje #ElectoralCollege #PresidentialElection2024 #2024Election #electionresults

Join the Election Reformers Network and the expert panel below to discuss critical findings on voter misinformation and the open call for changes in election-night projections. Wednesday, October 30, 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST Register here: https://bit.ly/3YEJoCy

The US presidential election is one of the most consequential events in the world - and also among the most complicated. ERN is trying to change that with 'What Voters Need to Know About Presidential Elections.' https://bit.ly/4dWYNCK? Each entity in presidential elections plays a specific role according to defined rules. A clearer understanding of these roles and rules can help demystify the process. The more people know about election mechanisms, the less they fear a stolen election. State Legislatures?? Once election day has come, state legislators have NO ROLE in presidential election results. Their job is to pass laws?BEFORE the election, deciding how the state will select its electors (winner-take-all, by congressional district, etc.).???? ? Candidates and Parties? Politicians have many opportunities to ensure the election count's accuracy.?They have NO LEGITIMATE grounds to claim they legally won once final results show they did not and any involved court cases are resolved.? Courts? Elections are conducted according to procedures set by law. Courts are the BACKSTOP candidates and officials call on to ensure the law is followed and?the institutions we rely on every day to resolve disputes.?? Results? Election laws alone determine when results are final. Media projections have NO BEARING on the results. Whether a candidate concedes has NO BEARING on the results (though failing to do so can create risks of political violence).? Understanding the intricate mechanisms of elections is not just informative; it's empowering. Learn more about What Voters Need to Know About the Presidential Election at https://bit.ly/4dWYNCK.

Thank you to a great panel for joining us in an engaging discussion about North Carolina's election laws and procedures last week. With early voting going on in North Carolina, @JudgeBobOrr recognized the "incredible bipartisan effort" of local election boards and the state board to meet the challenge, especially in the 26 counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Damon Circosta reminded us that election night results are always projections and that final results take time. “No election administrator takes an oath to get the election done fast. They take an oath to get the election done right.” Towanna Dixon, who has also served as election administrator in Hoke County, reiterated, “I think people forget that we are people and voters, too...We aren’t perfect, and sometimes we will make mistakes, but the bottom line is that we want to do it right.” You can watch the entire recording at:?https://lnkd.in/g6_g4vbs?and check out the coverage of the panel on WHGP.?