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Public confidence in the institution of American elections has declined in recent years as charges of their unreliability have become part of the national political dialogue.  This project examines the evidence behind the allegations of fraud and suppression and suggests strategies for restoring public confidence in U.S. elections and the accuracy of voting results through improvements to election administration and civic education.

Current public opinion polls show that between 30 percent and 35 percent of Americans do not believe the accuracy of the results. That level of distrust is not sustainable in a democracy. To examine the issues and develop responsive strategies, the project will include bring together scholars, election officials and practitioners to examine: historical perspectives on the consequences of eroded confidence in the electoral process; the interrelated parts of today’s election administration system to evaluate the reliability of procedures for the casting and accurate counting of votes; the states’ laws and proposed laws to address the fraud/suppression debate that frames the public’s skepticism about the elections’ resultsand whether those statutory and regulatory changes impact voting to a degree commensurate with the erosion in confidence they cause; the contemporary challenge of how to address the concerns of those who doubt the accuracy of our elections, and proposed strategies from experts to improve the election administration system in a manner responsive to the current public doubts, with a focus on buttressing public trust in our voting systems and candidates’ acceptance of the election results resulting in the peaceful transfer of power.

The opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.

© 2024 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.

A RAI SPONSORED PROJECT

RAI

The Center for Revitalizing American Institutions in multiple ways affirms the purpose for which Herbert Hoover created the Hoover Institution. Through scholarship, policy analysis, and dissemination of findings, RAI will help the nation meet the current existential challenges to our institutions. By giving definition to the problem and approaching it holistically, RAI is a resource for improving the current situation and encouraging an informed and active citizenry.

LEADERSHIP
Benjamin Ginsberg

Benjamin Ginsberg

Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow

Ben Ginsberg is the Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a nationally known political law advocate representing participants in the political process. His clients have included political parties, political campaigns, candidates, members of Congress and state legislatures, governors, corporations, trade associations, political action committees (PACs), vendors, donors, and individuals. He represented four of the last six Republican presidential nominees.

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Justin Grimmer

Justin Grimmer

Senior Fellow

Justin Grimmer is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University. His current research focuses on American political institutions, elections, and developing new machine-learning methods for the study of politics.

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