Issues and Action

Empowering Voters Project: Ensuring the Continuing Impartiality of Administration of Elections
Contact the League of Women Voters for more information

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts recommends changing the Massachusetts General Laws governing the office of Director of the Elections Division and local and district elections administrators to ensure the continuation of impartiality of the administration of elections. This is a necessary measure to make sure voting in the Commonwealth continues to be safeguarded from undue partisan influence by state and local elections administrators. To ensure the continuity of impartiality in administering elections, those charged with administering elections must refrain from holding responsible, fiduciary positions in political campaigns other than their own.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth, acting as Director of the Elections Division, administers elections, performing such functions as writing ballots, surveying polling places, spending federal and state monies, and implementing voting law. Local elections administrators have the responsibility of ensuring that elections in their cities and towns are run fairly and lawfully. Currently the only restrictions on public employees in a political campaign are that they are not allowed to receive or solicit contributions.

Highlights

• To ensure the continuing impartiality of elections administration, elections administrators should not be permitted to hold responsible, fiduciary positions in any political campaigns other than their own.
• The League respects the current administration of state elections in Massachusetts and believes that elections here are managed without bias. Ensuring that this practice is codified in law is a good and reasonable management practice. 
• The perception of bias on the part of elections administrators undermines voters’ confidence in elections and the value of their vote. This can cause irreparable harm to our democracy.
• Elections officials in states across the nation have faced allegations of election fraud and a perception of impropriety. Some of these allegations revolve around the excessive involvement in political campaigns.
• In 2001, Georgia passed a law that prevents its Secretary of State from serving on a campaign in any fiduciary capacity.
• A newly formed federal voting commission is examining problems in Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri.