Election Administration Research Articles

Measuring County Election Administration in the United States

Measuring County Election Administration in the United States

Volunteers, Civil Servants, and Street-Level Bureaucrats: What Motivates Poll Workers to Serve on the Front-Lines of Elections?

As election officials have come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, research considering poll workers’ motivations offers a window into the human dimension of election administration. As public employees that work infrequently, poll workers perform their roles as government agents a few times a year (at most) for long hours and very low pay. Drawing upon original survey data collected from more than 1,000 poll workers in four Arizona counties between April and May, 2019, this study utilizes public service motivation (PSM) as a theoretical framework to explore whether and to what extent election workers express PSM. Ultimately, concepts of civic duty, social engagement, compensation, and social desirability are uncovered as factors motivating front-line election workers. The findings offer actionable insight on how workers can be better recruited to implement U.S. elections.

Smart and Secure E-Voting Application using Blockchain Technology

The realm of electronic voting systems is experiencing a profound transformation propelled by technological advancements. In response to the demand for secure and transparent voting mechanisms,this project, supervised by Mrs. V.M. Khanapure, endeavors to develop a Smart and Secure E-Voting Application employing blockchain technology. Traditional voting methods often face challenges related to tampering and fraud, which the proposed system aims to mitigate through the decentralized and immutable nature of blockchain. By leveraging the strengths of blockchain, such as transparency and decentralization, the project seeks to establish a trustworthy and efficient electronic voting solution. A primary focus of the Smart and Secure E-Voting Application is the implementation of advanced security measures. Cryptographic techniques are incorporated to secure vote transmissions and protect voter privacy. The application employs end-to-end encryption and multi-factor authentication, fortifyingthe overall security posture of the system. Moreover, the user-friendly interface caters to both voters and election administrators, ensuring accessibility without compromising the high level of security. This project not only addresses current challenges in electronic voting but also lays the foundation for future innovations, setting a precedent for reliable and transparent electoral processes through the utilization of blockchain technology..

Systematic Review to Propose a Blockchain-based Digital Forensic Ready Internet Voting System

The ballot paper-based voting system has a high risk of data manipulation and vote tampering due to a lack of immutability, transparency and privacy. This systematic review is conducted with the intention of proposing a digital forensic-ready internet voting process to mitigate issues of vote rigging and vote fraud. The review focused on current and up-to-date literature. Publications that are out of this date range were ignored and considered stale or irrelevant. We extracted and reviewed publications with either or all the following keywords: “digital forensic”, “internet voting”, “e-voting” and “blockchain”. A total of thirteen databases were consulted. These include ACM, IEEE, Web of Science, Science Direct, Academic Search Complete, Access Science, ProQuest, Oxford Academy, Ingenta, Cambridge Core and Clarivate. From the inclusion list of one hundred and five (105) studies that were looked at in detail, twenty of them (i.e.,19%) covered blockchain technology. Two percent (2%) of them were focused on digital forensics in internet voting. The results herein were synthesised and presented in a qualitative methodology. The review shows that a secure and reliable digital forensic system could effectively mitigate vote rigging and fraud. Therefore, we proposed a blockchain-based digital forensic-ready internet voting system. The proposed system is beneficial to the electorate, election observers, electoral candidates, electoral administration bodies as well as the national law enforcement agencies.

Moving the electoral goalposts: State and local strategies of electoral intervention in the U.S.

Central to the partisan divide in American politics is disagreement over the fundamental legitimacy of American elections. Due to the decentralized nature of election administration in the US, these disagreements have led to a complex web of heterogeneous electoral institutions. Scholars have made impressive progress on untangling the effects of these different institutions — unfortunately, less is known about the sources of adoption of such proposals. Using time-series cross-sectional data on the adoption of various electoral policies by state governments from 2001–2018, I examine the role of politics and identity in shaping the types of electoral interventions adopted by state legislatures during an important period of increasing politicization of such interventions. Applying dynamic panel models and constructing a novel measure of the concentration of Black population within competitive congressional districts, I find that the effects of race, competition, and ideology on electoral interventions differ across both partisan lines and issue areas.

Administrative and legal aspects of voter information in the Russian Federation

The object of the study is the system of information support for voters in the Russian Federation. The subject of the scientific article is the administrative and legal aspects of informing Russian voters, analyzed in the context of modern socio-political processes. The authors consider in detail such aspects of the topic as the ratio of information and campaigning in the course of public administration of elections, responsibility for administrative offenses in the field of information support of the electoral process, the ambiguity of the administrative and legal status of a candidate in elections and the problems of administrative and legal regulation of voter information carried out by various subjects. Special attention is paid to the problems and prospects for the development of administrative and legal regulation of voter information in the context of today's technological and geopolitical challenges. Based on the understanding of modern scientific research and innovative approaches, as well as the experience of the 2024 election campaign for the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the authors also touch upon some problems of digitalization of the electoral process. The study is based on a systematic approach that allows us to study the mechanism of public administration of voter information as a set of inextricably interrelated and interacting elements organized as a single whole. The work uses a whole range of scientific research methods: formal-logical; comparative-legal; sociological and so on. The main conclusions of the conducted research are the authors' proposals with scientific novelty on clarifying the status of a candidate and legislative legal differentiation of the statuses of "registered" and "nominated candidates", clearer administrative and legal regulation of the voter information mechanism carried out by various entities, and the introduction of administrative responsibility directly for violations in the field of voter information.

Can Election Administration Overcome the Effects of Restrictive State Voting Laws?

Can Election Administration Overcome the Effects of Restrictive State Voting Laws?

Transportation management practices and Performance of Electoral Systems in Kenya.

Elections are becoming democracy’s bedrock. Even before the great development of African states were created, antagonists attempted to corrupt, undermine, or otherwise disrupt democracy by seeking to subvert elections. The threats on the electoral process are as old as the vote itself: from adversarial governments, terrorist organizations, strikers for the Boss Tweed vote, people who try to wreak havoc hence the survival of democracy demands for the protection of elections. As a consequence, after the 90s Election Administration in African nations, the tendency of some individuals to impede elections has not changed, mentioning a number of electoral fraud cases in the history of African States. In recent years, some of the tactics of such attempts to overthrow democracy have become distinct. Attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in digital networks today improve conventional approaches and have become an increasingly successful strategy. Therefore, the study sought to determine the relationship between transportation management practices and Performance of Electoral Systems in Kenya.The research design that was used in this study was an exploratory research design. The population for this study consisted of 373 Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CS/CEO), Deputy Commission Secretary (DCS), Directors, Managers, County Election Managers, and Constituency Election Coordinators within 290 constituencies of Kenya's August 2017 election. A total of 373 respondents were used as the sample size for the study. Data was used as primary and secondary. While self-administered questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect primary data, the study reviewed the previous evaluation reports to seek the secondary data on performance of election systems in Kenya. The data was collected and then analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The results of this study benefited policy makers, managers, administrators, citizens all whole, researchers, consultants, scholars, and trainers involved in election administration. This study tested the null hypotheses that transportation management practices had no significant relationship in the performance of electoral systems in Kenya. Pragmatism paradigm approach and mixed method research were adopted in this study. The questionnaire tested both validity and reliability. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyze the collected data with the assistance of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25. Multiple regression and correlation analysis were carried out. The results revealed a positive correlation (R = 0.712) between transportation management practices and electoral system performance, with approximately 50.7% of the variance explained by transportation management practices. The consequences of these findings are relevant for electoral authorities and policymakers that aim to improve the dependability, participation rate, uniformity, and trustworthiness of election systems through the use of strategic transportation management practices. The study recommends key strategies to enhance the performance of Kenyan electoral systems through improved Transportation Management Practices. It suggests adopting advanced route optimization software for efficient delivery of voting materials, emphasizing GPS tracking and real-time monitoring. Comprehensive inspections before departure are urged to identify and rectify potential issues. Rigorous security protocols, including background checks, sealed containers, and security escorts, are proposed to address Transportation Security concerns. For Reverse Logistics, a meticulously designed plan is recommended for systematic collection, packaging, and timely pickup of materials post-election. Thorough examination and authentication of returned materials are crucial for ensuring accuracy and reliability. Proper maintenance of equipment is emphasized to guarantee optimal functionality for future electoral processes.

Pemikiran Kritis dalam Rekrutmen Penyelenggara Pemilu Menggunakan Sistem online Perspektif Hukum Tata Negara

Critical thinking in the context of recruiting election organizers using online systems is an urgent topic in constitutional law studies. In the digital era, technological transformation has fundamentally changed the electoral landscape. This research aims to analyze the implications of constitutional law for the use of online systems in recruiting election organizers. This research uses qualitative research approach with a document analysis and literature study. Through a critical approach, this research explores aspects such as fairness, transparency and accountability in the online recruitment process. By considering the democratic principles underlying constitutional law, this research highlights the legal challenges that may arise along with the adoption of technology in the recruitment of election administrators. An in-depth analysis of applicable legal norms will be carried out to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the online system in maintaining the integrity and legitimacy of the general election process. It is hoped that the results of this research will provide valuable insight for the formulation of legal policies that are more adaptive to technological developments in the context of holding elections.

Race and democratic decline in the United States: How minority population growth affects election administration

AbstractObjectivesWe ask whether counties with growing black and Latino populations have reduced the number of poll workers and polling sites. We argue that the association between changing racial demographics and election infrastructure has been exacerbated by the release of certain jurisdictions from the Voting Rights Act's (VRA) “preclearance” requirement under Section 5.MethodsRelying on data from the 2016 and 2018 Election Administration and Voting Survey and demographic data from the American Community Survey, we conduct a multilevel linear regression on a sample of roughly 4000 counties.ResultsWe find that counties respond to changes in the Latino population, though not changes in the black population, by reducing access to election resources. This relationship is especially pronounced in areas formerly covered by Section 5 of the VRA.ConclusionsGiven the importance of polling places and workers for in‐person voting, our findings raise serious concerns for racial equality in election access and influence.

Issue of ‘One Nation, One Election’ in Indian Perspective

This research examines the potential impacts—both positive and negative—of introducing simultaneous elections across India, known as "One Nation, One Election." This proposed change aims to synchronise national, state, and local election timings to reduce frequent election cycles. The analysis shows that synchronised elections could save significant costs for state and central governments by reducing expenses related to election administration, security, and disruptions in governance. Estimated annual savings could exceed ₹45 billion. The effect on state governments varies; while national issues might overshadow local concerns, state administrations could benefit from more governance-focused time rather than electioneering. This might decrease voter fatigue but could limit expressing dissatisfaction with state governments at different times. From an industry standpoint, synchronised elections offer more stable policies and less political uncertainty. Overall, simultaneous elections promote better governance focus and enhance political and economic stability. The paper provides a comprehensive evaluation based on evidence of the expected pros, cons, costs, and benefits.

Bawaslu's Authority to Resolve Disputes on Elected Candidates Internal to Political Parties in the 2024 Legislative Election

The open proportional system used in the 2024 Legislative Election with the determination of elected legislative candidates within political parties based on the majority of votes has resulted in disputes over elected candidates within political parties. This research aims to determine the provisions governing procedures for resolving disputes between internal political party candidates and institutions authorized to resolve disputes. The research method used is normative with descriptive analysis looking at Bawaslu's authority in resolving cases based on reports from fellow legislative candidate members within the party. The authority to determine elected candidates as legislative members is in the hands of the KPU/KPUD in stages. Thus, political parties cannot intervene in this authority in any form. The research results found that Bawaslu as the institution responsible for supervising the stages or process of elections as attributed to the Election Law, should be able to handle or resolve disputes between internal legislative candidates of political parties because it is explicitly stated in the academic text of Law no. 7 of 2017 that Bawaslu received and reviewed reports regarding alleged violations of Election Administration Provisions because disputes over elected candidates within political parties were included in the election dispute regime and not the political party dispute regime. The conclusion of this research is that this type of dispute can occur in the election process, especially in the process of determining elected legislative candidates by the KPU, provincial KPU, district/city KPU.

Keadilan dan Kepastian Hukum dalam Pemilu Serentak di Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of legal aspects, uphold the principles of electoral justice to realize a democratic (honest and fair) as well as a reference for education and research in strengthening legal and democratic life in the country. The research method applied in this article is a qualitative approach described through verbal reports to explain and describe the information that has been collected. Data sources in this study are divided into two types, namely primary data sources obtained directly from the field, and secondary data sources which are pre-existing information. The result of this study is that fairness in simultaneous elections in Indonesia has a significant impact on the integrity of the democratic process. Unfairness in elections, such as fraudulent practices, uneven distribution of resources, or impartiality in the administration of elections, can undermine the integrity of elections and reduce the representation of election results. When voters sense injustice, they may lose faith in the democratic system and doubt the legitimacy of the government that results from the election. To overcome the challenges of fairness in simultaneous elections in Indonesia, there needs to be a very strong commitment to strengthen the integrity and representativeness of the democratic process

The concept and classification of principles of constitutional-legal responsibility of subjects of the electoral process

In this scientific article, the concept and classification of the principles of constitutional-legal responsibility of subjects of the electoral process are examined and analyzed. It is established that elections are a phenomenon guided by central principles of democracy. They provide citizens with the opportunity to choose their representatives and determine the future of the country. However, to ensure the fairness and legality of the electoral process, it is essential to have an effective system of constitutional-legal responsibility for the subjects of the electoral process.
 Fundamental (basic) principles of constitutional-legal responsibility of subjects of the electoral process include legitimacy and legality, honesty and transparency, justice, accountability and punishment, independence of the electoral commission, freedom of speech and media independence, international observation, as well as the principle of popular sovereignty.
 It is emphasized that the principle of justice is fundamental to ensuring the democracy and legitimacy of the electoral process. It helps ensure that all participants have equal conditions for expressing their political preferences and freely expressing the will of the citizens through voting. Constitutional-legal responsibility also includes a prohibition of discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all subjects of the electoral process.
 Highlighting the principle of independence of the electoral commission, it is crucial for ensuring fairness and trust in the electoral process. The electoral administration should be entirely apolitical, meaning that electoral bodies and commissions should not be influenced by any political party or candidate. They should operate independently of political ambitions and interests, strictly adhering to the laws and constitutional norms of the country. Their actions and decisions should be based on the law rather than political or personal beliefs.
 In summary, the principles of constitutional-legal responsibility of subjects of the electoral process are guiding ideas and fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, defining the content and essence of the constitutional-legal responsibility of participants in the electoral process, the peculiarities of the development of its normative-legal regulation, and the specifics of its application.

Performance Analysis of District Election Commission Employees

This study employs a qualitative description method to analyze the performance of Sidoarjo District General Election Commission employees, focusing on commissioners and various administrative roles. Utilizing interviews, observation, and documentation, the interactive data analysis model by Miles and Huberman is applied. Findings reveal commendable performance across indicators, yet highlight a notable issue with punctuality. Despite disciplined office hours, employees exhibit lower punctuality during activities and office entry. Limited working hours appear to shape their engagement, with perceived inactivity outside election periods. Various factors impede employee work at the General Election Commission in Sidoarjo Regency. This research contributes valuable insights into electoral administration, emphasizing punctuality and addressing challenges faced by commission employees Highlight : Insights into Employee Punctuality: Reveals significant variations in punctuality during activities and office entry, providing a nuanced understanding of employee behavior. Limited Working Hours Impact: Examines the influence of limited working hours on employee engagement, shedding light on the perceived inactivity outside election periods. Addressing Challenges in Electoral Administration: Highlights key factors hindering the work of General Election Commission employees, offering actionable insights for improving electoral processes. Keywords: Election Commission, Employee Performance, Punctuality, Qualitative Analysis, Challenges

Alexander B. Makulilo; Eugène Ntaganda; Francis A. Away; Margaret Sekaggya & Patrick Osodo, Election Management Bodies in East Africa: A Comparative Study of the Contribution of Electoral Commissions to the Strengthening of Democracy. Nairobi: Open Society Foundations, 2015. 293 pages, ISBN 978-1-920677-96-1

Election Management Bodies (EMBs) are critical to the conduct of elections and the consolidation of democracy. Nevertheless, there remains a scanty comprehensive analysis of EMBs in East Africa. Makulilo, Ntaganda, Away, Sekaggya, and Osodo’s book ventures into that journey. Their book analyses the nature and role of EMBs in five East African countries, namely Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, centring election management at the heart of democratisation and democratic consolidation. The book situates EMBs into a broader perspective, assuming "their status as a product of the struggle for democracy, their anchorage in the constitutional traditions of each society, their place in the history of political reform, and their interaction with the other institutions of each country" (p. viii). The book's essence draws from the reality that African elections and governance contestations primarily revolve around the management and administration of elections (p. 1).

Female’s Participation through First-Past-the-Post Electoral System in Provincial Election of Nepal

An election produces changes in the socio-cultural arena. The gender gap is commonly used in politics to indicate voting preferences and level of participation during pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral activities. Gender gap creates obstacles in every step of gender mainstreaming. This article was prepared based on secondary data from the election commission, Nepal (ECN). To assess the status of female’s participation and to identify causes and measures of the gender gap in the provincial level first-past-the-post electoral system, this article was prepared as the title female’s participation through first-past-the-post electoral system in the provincial election of Nepal. A simple literature review was conducted to collect essential information to meet the objective. The status of female’s participation is found low at the provincial level first-past-the-post electoral system in Nepal. There were few numbers of nominate female candidates and elected female candidates in all 7 provinces. In Karnali province, even a single female candidate can’t win the race. To meet the national commitment in gender mainstreaming and to fulfill the target of sustainable development goals, all political parties must perform effective policy to increase the number of female candidates. Through politics, women can realize discrimination and destitution over them. Active participation of women in politics boosts up their roles as voters, candidates, elected officials, electoral administrators, observers, civil society representatives, etc. All barriers regarding female participation in politics must be corrected by concerned authorities as soon as possible with the visionary and coordinating leadership of the local, provincial, and federal government.

POLITIK UANG DALAM KERANGKA DEMOKRASI DAN PROBLEMATIKA PENEGAKAN HUKUMNYA

The practice of Politics Money is a violation in the administration of elections. In these elections not only for the president and vice presidential elections but also for members of the legislature at all levels. The practice of money politics also often occurs, especially in the area of Sukabumi Regency. The identification of this problem is to find out the background of money politics criminal acts in the 2019 Legislative Election in Sukabumi District, Enforcement of Money Political Crimes in the 2019 Legislative Election by the Sukabumi Regency Election Supervisory Board and the Gakkumdu Center Authority in Handling Money Political Crimes in 2019 Legislative Election in 2019 in Sukabumi Regency Law Number 7 of 2017 Regarding General Elections. The method used in research is normative jurisdiction that is to find and examine the laws and regulations that are relevant to research and also derived from library materials. Keywords: Money Politics; Bawaslu; Sentra Gakkumdu.

A Impact Analysis of Digitalized Voting System on Voting Behavior and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria

Election results in most African countries are hardly transmitted using digitalized devices. This has created room for suspicion and discrediting of electoral integrity in part of Africa. Citizens’ suspicion of the electoral process has not only made many African voters believe that votes hardly count, but it has significantly provoked tendencies of political apathy and indifference during elections in some African countries. Political apathy and indifference are partly responsible for the recruitment of mediocre persons to elective political offices, which in the long run, amount to bad governance. While the occupation of elective public offices by mediocre persons is antithetical to democratic consolidation, Africa’s electoral integrity largely depends on, and can only be sustained if election results are digitalized or transmitted in real time electronically. Although studies have extensively examined and identified factors such as competency, integrity, proven track records, vision, ideology, manifesto, and inducements, among others, as factors influencing voting choice or behavior, evidence is very little on how a digitalized transmission of election results, impacts on voting behavior and consolidates Africa’s democracy, using the elite theory. This article thus expanded knowledge on how a digitalized voting method influences voters’ decisions or choices using the qualitative method. Results indicated that a digitalized voting system could enhance vote count, public trust in election results, and the deepening of democracy in Africa. It concluded that a digitalized voting system has the potential to increase citizens trust in the electioneering process in Nigeria. This is a contribution to the general body of knowledge in e-voting and election administration. Keywords: Behavior, Consolidation Democracy, Digitalize, Voting System

Inventory management practices and performance of electoral systems in Kenya

Effective inventory management plays a pivotal role in the overall performance and functionality of systems across various sectors. In the context of electoral systems, where precision, efficiency, and transparency are paramount, the management of inventory, including the planning, tracking, and control of resources, is of utmost importance. Therefore, the study sought to determine the role of inventory management practices on the performance of electoral systems in Kenya. The research design that was used in this study was a longitudinal research design. The population for this study consisted of 373 Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CS/CEO), Deputy Commission Secretary (DCS), Directors, Managers, County Election Managers, and Constituency Election Coordinators within 290 constituencies of Kenya's August 2017 election. A total of 373 respondents were used as the sample size for the study. Data was used as primary and secondary. While self-administered questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect primary data, the study reviewed the previous evaluation reports to seek the secondary data on General election performance. The data was collected and then analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Being that the study dealt with the relationship study, the study therefore used a regression model as a tool of analysis and the results that were generated were presented in the form of tables. The results of this study benefited policy makers, managers, administrators, citizens all whole, researchers, consultants, scholars, and trainers involved in Election Administration. This study tested the null hypotheses that inventory management practices had no significant role in the performance of electoral systems in Kenya. Pragmatism paradigm approach and mixed method research were adopted in this study. The questionnaire tested both validity and reliability. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyze the collected data with the assistance of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25. Multiple regression and correlation analysis were carried out. The regression analysis results demonstrated a strong and significant role of inventory management practices on the performance of electoral systems. The R-squared values indicated that approximately 79% of the variation in electoral system performance was explained by inventory management practices. The adjusted R-squared value of 0.788 accounted for the number of predictors in the model. In conclusion, the study reveals that efficient inventory management practices significantly influence the performance of electoral systems in Kenya, emphasizing the need for standardized handling, storage, and transportation processes, the adoption of technology-driven monitoring systems, centralized inventory management, just-in-time approaches, regular cycle counting, and continuous improvement efforts. However, there remains unexplained variance in performance, warranting further investigation to identify additional influential factors. Additionally, future research should extend its focus to other countries in the East African region to comprehensively assess inventory management practices and their impact on electoral system performance