Run for Something & Let America Vote Announce the Local Election Authority Initiative
We are so excited to announce the launch of the the Local Election Authority Initiative. Working in partnership with Let America Vote, this initiative is a nationwide project that empowers every day people to run for offices that oversee voting and voter education in their communities.
So, what’s the plan?
The Local Election Authority Initiative stretches across the country — we need great new city and county clerks in every state! However, since we can’t go 150% in all 50 states, we plan on paying close attention to states where a legislative chamber flip can make a difference in redistributing — where more Democrats running for office at every level can increase turnout across the ticket. Those states, as defined by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, include: Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Both Let America Vote and Run for Something will focus on four key actions: encouraging young diverse progressives to run for office, increasing transparency for voters, increasing transparency for those running, and making Election Day more accessible.
Why the hell are we doing this?
Well, in the past, local election authority seats have been confusing to some and irrelevant to most. However, these elected positions — and the folks who hold them — hold large amounts of power.
For example, in most counties and districts across the country, clerks are responsible for the maintenance of elections and voting. This includes:
- The publishing of accurate election results are widely published
- Making sure that ESL workers have been properly staffed at all locations
- Making sure polling locations are ADA compliant
- Overseeing early voting procedures
- Deciding when polls open, when they close, and where they are located
- Overseeing the implementation of new machinery
If you’re seeing a pattern emerge, don’t worry, you’re not crazy. All of the aforementioned responsibilities are directly tied to issues of voter suppression in the U.S. Following the ruling of Shelby v. Holder in 2013, we’ve seen dozens (we’re talking to you North Carolina) of states enact voting policies that work to disenfranchise traditionally progressive voters. We’re talking people of color, lower income people, immigrants, and hourly workers.
In short, people that don’t typically vote for the Grand Old Party.
But here’s where county and city clerks come into play. In these positions, officials have the power to counteract these policies. They have the opportunity to act as gatekeepers to electoral process. They can work to make sure that every election is transparent, that every voter has easy and swift access to the ballot, and the constituent is well-informed.
Former Let America Vote and Run for Something candidate, Brianna Lennon agrees. Lennon, a voting rights advocate and the current Clerk of Boone County in Missouri understands fully the importance of clerks in small municipalities.
“Local election authorities are on the front lines against voter suppression because, at the end of the day, we are the officials responsible for ensuring that every eligible voter in our jurisdictions can cast a ballot.”
Election authorities also have the chance to help circumvent the inevitable clusterfuck that will be the 2021 redistricting process. If the past, is any indication, we know that state legislators from certain parties are looking to pack/crack counties in their favor. In order to ensure safe and accurate elections after redistricting, we need to elect more passionate and hard-working city and county clerks to office to fight back and mitigate any damage done.
The More You Know
You know the stakes and you know what you need to do. If you are interested in learning more about the position of clerk or you are already interested in running in your local community, sign up at www.runforsomething.net/clerks and join the fold.
You can also chip in to fund our recruitment advertising — every dollar matters! runforsomething.net/donate
The only way to fix the system is to take the reigns of power yourself. So get it to it!
