Number: RL32938
Title: What Do Local Election Officials Think about Election Reform?: Results of a Survey
Authors: Eric A. Fischer, Resources, Science, and Industry Division; and Kevin J. Coleman, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: U.S. elections are highly decentralized, with much of the responsibility for election administration residing with local election officials (LEOs). There are thousands of such officials, many of whom are responsible for all aspects of election administration in their local jurisdictions - including voter registration, recruiting pollworkers, running each election, and choosing and purchasing new voting systems. These officials are therefore critical to the successful implementation of state and federal election laws, including the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA, P.L. 107-252). Nevertheless, there has been little objective information on the perceptions and attitudes of LEOs about election reform. This report discusses the results of a scientific opinion survey of principal local election officials1 that was designed to help fill that gap in knowledge. The findings may be useful to Congress as it considers funding and possible reauthorization of HAVA.
Pages: 14
Date: June 23, 2005