CONFLICT OF INTEREST! The Secretary of State is a state’s chief election officer and wins election as a political party candidate or is appointed by a partisan governor. This creates a conflict of interest between administering elections neutrally and the individual’s personal interest and career goals in the party’s success. No other democracy allows this.
Who wouldn’t agree that elections should be run impartially by professionals possessing election administration qualifications? Yet, from 2000 - 2020:
+ 40% of secretaries of state simultaneously ran for higher office
+ Only 26% of incoming secretaries of state had any background in election administration.
+ About 20% lost lawsuits arising because their actions favored their political party.
States and counties with election boards/commissions designed these bodies with emphasis on representing the two major political parties rather than impartial election administration. Ask yourself what kind of expertise would best serve a board of elections? Here are some of my ideas. Add yours in the comments.
+ Professional experience in election administration
+ Background in cyber/election security
+ Election law professionals
Reform has been recommended for years, but nothing has changed. Take a survey to choose your preferred option to correct this.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYQ7PdcmEX2RYT_L9tQjP6qFA4ZlCYYH3Wav0p-dxPNCaJqw/viewform?fbzx=-5311125948009100017
REFORM 1: Voluntary neutrality pledge to treat all candidates and ballot questions neutrally.
REFORM 2: Ethics legislation prohibiting secretaries of state from endorsing or fundraising for/against candidates or ballot questions.
REFORM 3: Candidacy requirements for secretaries of state, including relevant experience, no recent party leadership roles, and a cooling off period before former secretaries can run for higher office.
REFORM 4: Nonpartisan election of a new chief election officer, with a runoff election to ensure the winner has majority support.
REFORM 5: New election board that appoints the chief election officer, with the board selected for political balance and independence from party influence.
Read more: https://www.electionreformers.org/articles/five-secretary-of-state-reform-options