Resources

Authors provide an overview of recent trends in election official turnover and provide an in-depth analysis of these trends in western U.S. states. They conclude the report with recommendations for building a resilient and stable election workforce. Recommendations focus in preventing and protecting election officials from threats and strategies for recruiting and retaining election officials, among others.

This resource provides a transcript of U.S. Election Assistance Commission public hearing on election audit standards, reflecting current discussions among election officials and audit experts.

This report analyzes another Maryland risk limiting audit (RLA) bill, including audit models, local board impacts, and references to practical RLA research.

The 2025 Local Election Official Survey gathered insight on the views of 858 local election officials related to federal cuts to election security services, resource constraints, worries of political interference, experiences of threats and harassment, and the use of artificial intelligence in elections.

This report aims to support election officials in strengthening poll worker programs and recruitment. It outlines state legal frameworks for serving as a poll worker, including voter status and residency, age requirements, and compensation. It also highlights state, local, and political party strategies for improving poll worker recruitment, such as community partnerships, targeted outreach, and improved training programs.

This report analyzes a Maryland bill that would require risk-limiting audits after statewide elections, including fiscal and administrative implications.

The 2024 Local Election Official (LEO) Survey provides insight into the challenges and successes facing election administrators, including job satisfaction, experience with threats and harassment, and hiring and funding challenges. It also highlights LEOs’ perspectives on the performance of U.S. elections and their role in voter education and engagement.

This report supports automated independent audits as a complement or alternative to other post-election audit methods. It may be useful for administrators or policymakers in comparing auditing approaches.

Using an original dataset spanning all 50 states, authors also analyze the experience levels of current and incoming election officials and variations in turnover by several jurisdiction and office characteristics. The report also provides recommendations for policymakers to help mitigate turnover and promote workforce resiliency.

This report uses data from the Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) Threats and harassment Database (THD) to identify and discuss trends in threats and harassment against election officials between 2022 and 2024. BDI found that election officials faced an elevated risk of threats around election time during the period studied. BDI publishes updated analyses of the THD every month.

This report from Verified Voting compares audit and recount laws in seven 2024 swing states, clarifying differences between audits and recounts for public understanding.

This Brennan Center survey reports on local election officials’ experiences with security, threats, funding, staffing, and preparation for the 2024 election environment. It is relevant because trusted, timely, and nonpartisan communication is one of the main tools election officials and civic groups use to counter distrust. For this dataset, it helps capture the most recent post-2020 trust environment and the continuing effects of election denial, security concerns, and polarization.