Elections are regarded as a reflection of the strength and qualities of a country's democracy. The 2016 election revealed deep flaws in the U.S. voting process. Election security was a national security concern in 2020 even before the global COVID-19 pandemic put the logistics of an election into question. What is the status of the critical infrastructure that underpins fair and open voting? Can we ensure a voting process that upholds confidence in American democracy? How can the federal agencies work with state and local election entities to create safe practices that maintain confidence in the voting process? In a moment of turbulence and distrust, can America have an election that is secure? LaShawn Warren, EVP of government affairs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, will be in conversation with Lawrence Norden, director of the Election Reform Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, moderated by Angela Evans, dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin.
Deeper Dive
Why online voting isn't the answer to running elections during COVID-19
Lawrence Norden
Brennan Center for Justice, May 21, 2020
There has been growing buzz around the potential for internet voting as states struggle with preparing to conduct safe and fair elections during the Covid-19 pandemic. Companies selling online voting systems promise a "silver bullet" to deal with voting during the pandemic: a new technology that will allow people to vote from their homes, a safe distance from others. Unfortunately, there is no magical solution for running elections during a pandemic.
Preparing for election day: Deadlines for running a safe slection
Edgardo Cortés, Derek Tisler, Gowri Ramachandran, Lawrence Norden, Edward Perez, Frank Reyes
Brennan Center for Justice, May 11, 2020
The Brennan Center has outlined a detailed plan for ensuring fair and safe elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. But implementing that plan will take time, and election jurisdictions will need to purchase and deploy critical equipment and supplies months before this November's election. This document identifies some of those key items, explains critical deadlines, and details the potential dangerous consequences of missing those deadlines.