Election Standards
Election Standards
where they come from
The American Voters Alliance’s standards for elections are based on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This is a US government agency that monitors the development of foreign nations and has developed a well-researched guide to judging the state of a foreign nation’s election system. We believe our nation’s elections must be held to the same standard. The USAID election guide is below. What follows is our interpretation of those standards.
Citizens have the right to know how their votes are being counted. While a voter’s identity should be kept private, the process shouldn’t be a mystery. Policies promoting transparency give citizens access to the voting system, further promoting accountability, inclusivity, and participation
Inclusivity
All voters must be given an equal access to voting opportunities without any undue burdens placed upon them. Any tactic to suppress the vote or treat one demographic differently than another undermines the fairness of the process and suppresses the will of the people.
Accountablitiy
Government officials at all levels are accountable to the rule of law. The U.S. has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. These branches create natural checks and balances of power and accountability. Our election system must operate in a system that creates accountability around government officials, so the voices of its citizens are protected.
Participation
SIMPLICITY
Voting doesn’t have to be complicated – one citizen, one vote. As technology increases and urban centers increase, it can be easy to overcomplicate the system. However, the simple principles of the voting process remain the same. Simplifying the system, while maintaining security standards, further promotes transparency, inclusivity, accountability, and participation
