Each of the 50 States needs a State Board of Elections

December 2, 2020 | re_tail20

[re_tail20]

Most “democratic” countries manage their elections on a national level.

The United States, however, manages its elections on a “states” level, and the states manage the elections on a “counties” level.

Each state has a unique state method for managing elections, and each county has unique county method for managing elections.

In most cases, if one were to compare and contrast, the similarities would be “good enough”, and the differences “minor” and “not important”. Ideally, there should be as many similarities as possible, and as few differences as possible.

In some “big picture” areas, though, we need new similarities.

Given that we have political parties, how should elections be managed on the “states” level?

For example, should they be managed by an appointed or elected Secretary of State with allegiance to only one political party?

Or, should they be managed by an appointed and confirmed State Board of Elections with members of both political parties on it, as well as Independents?

My opinion is that an appointed and confirmed State Board of Elections, with, say, three Republicans, three Democrats, and three Independents is the best way for each state to manage its elections, because it allows both major political parties, in resolving elections issues such as the number and location of polling places, to keep each other in check with assistance from the Independents.

Not only that, but each county’s election department or election board should be turned over to the State Board of Elections so that there is as much uniformity of procedures as possible.

Right now, a majority of states use a method that is non-State Board of Elections

Lieutenant Governor - Elected

Alaska Utah

Secretary of State - Elected

Alabama Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Idaho Iowa Kansas Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Oregon South Dakota Vermont Washington Wyoming

Secretary of State - appointed by Governor

Florida New Jersey Pennsylvania Texas

Chief Election Official - chosen by Legislature

Maine New Hampshire Tennessee

Commissioner of Elections

Delaware

Combination of Chief Election Official and Board of Elections or Commission

Arkansas Georgia Indiana Kentucky Rhode Island West Virginia

Finally - what I think is best.

State Board of Elections - Appointed by Governor

Hawaii Illinois Maryland North Carolina New York Oklahoma South Carolina Virginia Wisconsin

In the “Building Confidence in U. S. Elections” report in 2004, one recommendation called for a “State Elections Office” for each state in place of all the other above non-Board of Elections methods.

But, on thinking about it, I think that the Board of Elections method is the most feasible.

So every state that doesn’t have a State Board of Elections should establish a State Board of Elections.

Once my state’s legislature gets back in session next year, I will lobby and write each of its members to make this so in my state.

If your state doesn’t have a state board of elections, please do the same next year. Thanks.

[Mad Dawg]

WITH SUBPOENA POWERS!

[PBRCat]

In former times, the Illinois Secretary of State supervised statewide elections, but this function was removed from the office about fifty years ago and an appointed State Board of Elections was created in the aftermath.

Why?

A corrupt Secretary of State constantly misused his powers to benefit the Democratic Party.

Paul Powell died before being brought to justice. After his passing, $800,000.00 in cash was found in his hotel room and office in Springfield, Illinois. His top salary never amounted to more than $30,000.00 annually.

[9YearLurker]

No reason at all to incorporate official positions for members of any political parties, let alone two parties as corrupt as the Dems and the GOP!

[ClearCase_guy]

We need a National Standard with Rules and Checks for all Federal Elections. Leaving Elections to local and State Politicians is an invitation to Cheating and Fraud.

I agree with that.

I think state boards should "manage" their elections, but should do so in accordance with uniform, federally established standards. And I think zero federal dollars should be dispensed to states until they get their act together. I'm talking no federal money. Not even disaster relief. Establish a clean and correct election process which can be processed by midnight on election day, can be verified and can be audited. Until that happens, too bad if you have an earthquake. Help's not on the way.

[mjustice]

I think state boards should "manage" their elections, but should do so in accordance with uniform, federally established standards.

I'm torn between whether the federal standards should apply to state elections (or whether they should create their own standards that must meet a minimum standard to receive funds), but I agree in principle. If you don't have clean elections, you don't receive a nickel in federal aid. That includes relocating military facilities and government facilities (e.g. prisons) where practical.

MJ

[lurk]

We are learning- too late- that there is no uniform system for a secure ballot processing system. Local ACORN bosses can run their ballot counting centers like warlords.

[aimhigh]

I couldn’t trust such a bureau appointed by the Oregon governor, or the Democrat supermajority legislature.

[Engedi]

Ballots need to be watermarked/ coded or somehow not be able to be copied. Every state same start and stop dates.

I’m sure next fraud election, the fraudsters will fold the absentee ballots so “not to be detected”. People noticed they were not folded and clean with no wrinkles, tears, etc. Fraudsters are listening and taking notes of what not to do next election.