Common Sense State Reforms
In most states, Secretaries of State and Attorneys General are responsible for the oversight of the ballot measure process and are often able to make significant administrative changes to strengthen a state’s protection against initiative fraud (i.e., shifting additional existing staff to oversight roles, etc.). However, it is primarily state legislatures that have the power to change the laws that are the most important to protecting the integrity of the ballot measure system.
At a time when more than 40 states are experiencing significant budget shortfalls, it’s important to note that most of the common sense reforms being proposed to strengthen ballot integrity would simply require legislative action, not additional spending by the states. Many of the changes, in fact, specifically empower the public to act as an additional watchdog against fraud, supporting election official’s efforts to make the process work for the citizens of their state.
BISC has broadly categorized the most urgent aspects of a sound ballot measure system into four categories: Higher Standards, Greater Transparency, Accountability, and Oversight and Enforcement.
Please click here to read BISC's Ballot Integrity Report Card.
Please click here to view our press release.
