 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 33, No. 9 * May 7, 2001 Table of Contents | Next story Election Commission adopts By Tom Goodman
Members of the National Commission on Election Standards and Reform discuss recommendations during their meeting in Multnomah County (Portland), Ore., last month. The commission, formed by NACo President Jane Hague in the aftermath of Election 2000, has developed more than 30 recommendations at the federal, state and local level to improve elections. After two days of debate and discussion, the National Commission on Election Standards and Reform adopted on April 22 a series of preliminary recommendations for federal, state and county governments to improve the nation’s election system by addressing funding, standards and election administration issues. The recommendations, which were approved at a meeting on April 21 and 22 in Multnomah County (Portland), Ore., assigned responsibilities based on the appropriate roles of each level of government. The commission maintained that elections should remain in state and local control and that the federal government should not adopt a regulatory approach. The federal government can best address the weaknesses of the current system by funding improvements in equipment and administration, sponsoring research and disseminating information, the commission wrote in the introduction to the recommendations. The states are best suited to reform procedures and provide oversight. Counties should focus on upgrading the management of elections through adequate staffing of registration and election functions, enhanced training for election officials and the adoption of best management practices, the commission recommended. Background The recommendations will be coupled with a report to be submitted for approval by the NACo Board of Directors in late May. The NACRC Board of Directors also will review the report and recommendations. The commission cited a number of reasons for reaching its conclusions. The complexity and costs of election systems have been compounded by the increased mobility of voters and by state and federal laws expanding the ways in which people can register and vote. The competing demands for resources and attention have made it difficult for states and counties to adequately fund election systems. “The public concern over the November election created an opportunity to address shortcomings of the systems,” the commission said. “Yet, we strongly urge an incremental approach. We should undertake reforms within the present system rather than creating new systems or imposing nationwide procedures on states and local governments.” Recommendations for federal level
There are two good arguments for federal funding, the commission noted. First, if voting is a fundamental right, then the probability of having one’s vote counted accurately should not be solely a function of local resources as it is currently. Federal and state governments should help local governments upgrade equipment to meet standards of reliability. Second, federal statutes and rules for the conduct of all elections including those for federal offices impose costs that have heretofore been borne entirely by state and local governments. The federal government should share in the general administrative costs of elections. Increased funding for research by the federal Office of Election Administration also was recommended by the commission. This would include research on voting systems, equipment that accommodates disabilities and operational practices of election offices. Recommendations for counties County responsibilities for improving the election system fell into seven categories: funding, personnel, management practices, data collection, voter information, voters with disabilities and language difficulties. The commission recommended that counties:
Recommendations for states
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