The Future of Election Administration: Cases and Conversations(Elections, Voting, Technology)

As the American election administration landscape changes as a result of major court cases, national and state legislation, changes in professionalism, and the evolution of equipment and security, so must the work of on-the-ground practitioners change. This Open Access title presents a series of case studies designed to highlight practical responses to these changes from the national, state, and local levels. This book is designed to be a companion piece to The Future of Election Administration, which surveys these critical dimensions of elections from the perspectives of the most forward-thinking practitioner, policy, advocacy, and research experts and leaders in these areas today. Drawing upon principles of professionalism and the practical work that is required to administer elections as part of the complex systems, this book lifts up the voices and experiences of practitioners from around the country to describe, analyze, and anticipate the key areas of election administration systems on which students, researchers, advocates, policy makers, and practitioners should focus. Together, these books add to the emerging body of literature that is part of the election sciences community with an emphasis on the practical aspects of administration.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction.- Part I Reflections on History and Links to Reform.- 2. Inter-Organizational Implementation: Carrying Out a Federal Court Order in Alabama.- 3. Reflections on the Creation and Implementation of Voting System Guidelines.- 4. Improving Voting for Overseas Citizens, Military Personnel and Their Dependents.- 5. Assisting Voters, Language Access, and the Role of Election Administrators.- 6. Accessibility Issues for Poll Sites and Voters.- 7. Protecting Election Infrastructure: A View from the Federal Level.- 8. Diversity in Election Administration: Understanding and Serving Your Voters.- 9. Changing Demographics in Election Administration.- 10. What Is the Role of the Vendor in Modern Elections?.- 11. The Cost of Convenience.- 12. Ghana’s 2012 General Election: Free, Fair, and Flawed?.- Part II Professionalizing the Field and Building Capacity.- 13. Creating Professionalism in the Field.- 14. State Support for Local Election Offices.- 15. StateConsiderations in Understanding the Costs of Elections.- 16. Professional Development and Election Administration Advocacy.- 17. How an Election Administration Student Evolved into an Election Professional.- 18. Observations and Lessons from Election Administration in Nigeria.- 19. The Role of Professional Associations in Supporting Election Administration.- 20. The Road to Election Administration Professionalization: Follow the Bottom Line.- Part III Tools for the Field.- 21. A Voter-Centered, Voter-First Approach to Elections.- 22. Implementing Wait Time Innovation in Election Administration: The Case of the EVWait Times App.- 23. Election Security and Large Counties.- 24. Technology Procurement in Election Systems.- 25. Using GIS to Improve Accuracy and Efficiency in Election Administration.- 26. Common Physical Barriers That Limit Access for Voters with Disabilities and Options to Solve Them.- 27. Communication and Etiquette Considerations When Working With Voters Who Have Disabilities.- 28. Operational Solutions That Help Voting Work For Everyone.- 29. The Value of the Election Administration and Voting Survey.- 30. Local Engagement with the Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS).- 31. Innovation in Synthesizing Big Data: The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).

About the Author :
Mitchell Brown is Professor of Political Science at Auburn University, USA. Kathleen Hale is Professor of Political Science and director of the graduate program in election administration at Auburn University, USA. Bridgett A.  King is Assistant Professor of Political Science and director of the MPA Program at Auburn University, USA.