Policy Brief  

Understanding the Role of Local Election Officials: How Local Autonomy Shapes U.S. Election Administration

This policy brief will examine the independence and discretionary powers of local election officials and offer a framework to better understand local autonomy in our electoral system. It will also describe the larger system within which the local election official operates and demonstrate how local power and voter-focused decision-making varies across the country. The brief will use illustrative examples of the exercise of autonomy by local election officials from past elections as well as examples of shifts in local discretionary powers from the recent wave of state legislative efforts that seek to restrict autonomy.

It will also address the implications of local autonomy for those with an interest in increasing voter access and promoting voter participation. This brief can be a resource for those seeking a better understanding of the possible levers of change in their own state or locality’s electoral system.

More from this Program

Wait, Wait — What Happened?

Podcast

Wait, Wait — What Happened?

Co-hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer look back at the last five months of headlines as they celebrate the twentieth episode of Terms of Engagement.

Is America Ready to Vote by Phone?
Terms of Engagement

Podcast

Is America Ready to Vote by Phone?

Archon Fung and Stephen Richer are joined by Michelle Feldman, political director at Mobile Voting, a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative working to make voting easier with expanded access to mobile voting.

Is Fusion Voting Fair?
Terms of Engagement

Podcast

Is Fusion Voting Fair?

Archon Fung and Stephen Richer discuss whether fusion voting expands representation and strengthens smaller parties—or whether it muddies party lines and confuses voters.

More on this Issue

Wait, Wait — What Happened?

Podcast

Wait, Wait — What Happened?

Co-hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer look back at the last five months of headlines as they celebrate the twentieth episode of Terms of Engagement.

Is America Ready to Vote by Phone?
Terms of Engagement

Podcast

Is America Ready to Vote by Phone?

Archon Fung and Stephen Richer are joined by Michelle Feldman, political director at Mobile Voting, a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative working to make voting easier with expanded access to mobile voting.