A Democracy Crisis in the Making
How state legislators are politicizing, criminalizing, and interfering with election administrators.
Protecting Free & Fair Elections
Our Work
Without free, fair, and secure elections, voters have no voice, little control over the direction of the country, and few ways to correct course when things go awry.
Elections are the linchpin of our democracy. Holding elections, and ensuring that power changes hands in accordance with their outcomes, is the essence of democratic self-government. By defending them, we also protect our rights and our system of government.
This takes two steps. First, we defend the process of holding elections. We do so by making sure that election officials are allowed to do their work without interference, that election systems are secure, and that politicians are unable to dictate the outcome or manipulate the election rules.
Second, we protect voters’ ability to participate meaningfully in the process, free from intimidation and harassment.
By ensuring that elections remain free, fair, and secure, we maintain our collective ability to shape the future of the country—or, when needed, to change course. In that, we protect voters’ trust in the results, even when their preferred candidates lose.
- Build secure, accessible, and accurate election systems and processes that are free from interference from foreign adversaries or domestic political actors.
- Create guardrails that ensure voters and candidates abide by the outcomes of every election.
- Foster public confidence in the fact that elections are free, fair, and secure.
Protected tens of thousands of voters from disfranchisement, intimidation, suppression, and election manipulation, and secured new precedents around the Ku Klux Klan Act and the Voting Rights Act.
Helped defend the 2020 election from attempts to manipulate and subvert—and eventually violently overturn—a free and fair result.
Related News & Resources
-
Independent State Legislature Theory
- Protecting Elections
- Research & Analysis
- Issue
-
Electoral Count Act
- Protecting Elections
- Legislation & Policy
- Issue
-
Fighting Against Voter Intimidation
- Protecting Elections
- Litigation
- Issue
-
National Task Force on Election Crises
- Protecting Elections
- Campaigns & Coalitions
- Issue
SPOTLIGHT: Reforming the Electoral Count Act and why it matters SPOTLIGHT: Reforming the Electoral Count Act
Legislative Wins for Democracy in 2022
An overview of the democracy reform legislation passed in the 117th Congress
The 117th Congress Left American Democracy Stronger Than It Found It
With advances on ECA reform and other democracy legislation, a departing Congress leaves American democracy in slightly better shape than it found it for the first time in over a decade.
Three Huge Wins for Democracy in 2022
An extensive recounting of how we achieved three of our top priorities for 2022: reforming the Electoral Count Act, ensuring accountability for January 6th, and combatting disinformation in court.
Electoral Count Act
The Electoral Count Act governs the way that electoral votes are cast and counted during presidential elections in the United States. The law includes vague, outdated language that must be updated.
Protect Democracy Celebrates the Passage of Historic Electoral Count Act Reform as Part of Omnibus Legislation
Congress has passed the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act as part of an omnibus appropriations bill.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Electoral Count Act
These are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Electoral Count Act and reform efforts.
There is broad support for Electoral Count Act reform
Support for Electoral Count Act reform has come from the press, a number of organizations, and many members of the Senate.
Protect Democracy Welcomes Inclusion of Critical Reforms to the Electoral Count Act in Omnibus Appropriations Bill; Urges Passage to Protect Future Elections
Congressional leaders announced that they have included the Electoral Count Reform Act (ECRA) in the omnibus appropriations bill
How Democracy Concerns & January 6th Influenced Midterm Voting
New January 6th midterm polls finds that voters—especially voters who split the ticket—were strongly motivated to respond to threats to democracy.
Report Update Details State Election Subversion Playbook in 2022 and Examines Post-Midterm Election Subversion Risk
End-of-year analysis finds over 400 state legislative proposals introduced since 2020 that would allow hyper-partisan actors to interfere in non-partisan election administration.
