Helping America Vote: Safeguarding the Vote

Publication Date: July 2004

Publisher: League of Women Voters (U.S.)

Author(s): Tracy Warren

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Voting systems; Voting technology

Type: Report

Abstract:

In 2002 Congress enacted the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) authorizing $3.9 billion to modernize and improve federal elections. Debate over how to fulfill the requirements of the new law has focused on new technology, both new voting machines and computerized statewide registration systems. Yet, as election officials well understand, new, sophisticated technology alone will not solve the ills that surfaced in the 2000 presidential election. Sound administrative practices are equally necessary to ensure that elections are run both fairly and accurately.

In this report, the League of Women Voters focuses not on the technology, about which much has already been said and written, but on the administrative framework that
will deploy new technologies and management systems to meet the goals of greater accuracy and security. The report sets forth a set of recommended operational and
management practices for election officials that protect eligible voters, ensure valid votes will be counted and bolster voters' confidence.