Hearing of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee - Election Administration: Innovation, Administrative Improvements and Cost Saving

Hearing

One month ago, this committee met to hear from the bipartisan co-chairs of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The President established that commission to study how elections are administered across the country and identify best practices for improving our elections. As we heard from co-chairs Bob Bauer and Ben Ginsberg, and read in the Commission's report, there are a number of improvements that can be made to how elections are administered in the United States.
As Americans, we are and should be proud of our democratic traditions. The expansion of the voting franchise over the past two centuries reflects our changing societal values. Part of being American is recognizing the importance of giving a voice to all Americans to participate in our democracy.

One of the most important things we can do is to ensure that the way we administer elections keeps up with the times. Updating the election infrastructure of our democracy is critical to ensuring all eligible Americans are able to vote.

And that is why I plan to introduce legislation that builds on the best practices recommended by the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. American voters deserve an election system that allows every eligible American who wants to participate in our democracy the opportunity to do so without unnecessary burdens. Common sense reforms that utilize existing technology can make our election administration more voter friendly, while also increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

On our first panel today, we will hear from two distinguished Senators - Senator Boxer and Senator Coons. My colleagues are similarly committed to improving the administration of elections. They are here today to talk about their legislation to improve the election process.

Senator Boxer is here to discuss the Lines Interfere with National Elections Act or LINE Act, which seeks to create accountability and ensure that voters never have to wait more than 30 minutes to vote. This goal, which was also highlighted by the Presidential Commission, is an important one for which we should strive. I look forward to hearing more of the details about this legislation in Senator Boxer's testimony.

Senator Coons also was gracious enough to join us today to discuss the Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely Voting Act or FAST Voting Act. This bill creates incentives for a "race to the top" structure to encourage states to adopt many of the best practices that we know will improve election administration.

At the Presidential Commission hearing last month, we heard an overview of the reforms that could improve election administration around the country. Today, we will hear a more in-depth explanation of the benefits of online registration and electronic pollbooks from our second panel of witnesses, which includes state and local election officials.

These election administrators, from jurisdictions that have successfully implemented this new election technology, will share their experiences. I look forward to their firsthand accounts about how these technological upgrades can help in providing good customer service to voters, cost savings by eliminating unnecessary data entry, and polling place efficiencies not possible with traditional paper systems. These are the types of common sense, cost effective reforms I intend to incorporate into my forthcoming bill.

First and foremost, I want to ensure that every American has the opportunity to register to vote online. The federal voter registration form currently is usable only in its paper form. My legislation will change that and give every American the option to register online.

I also believe that state and local election officials should have increased access to technology, such as electronic pollbooks, that could reduce check in times and lines at polling places, as well as improve the accuracy and integrity of our elections.

This hearing -- the second in a series on improving election administration -- is focused on innovation and cost savings. Effective and efficient election administration, as well as fair and equal access to voting, are objectives we should all be able to agree upon.
As I said at our hearing last month, running an election is not an easy job. But because it is so important to our democracy, we aspire to perfection.

Today we will hear what is working for local election officials. Our objective should be to figure out how to turn these local success stories into national ones.

I am pleased that we have two great panels to discuss this important topic today. I would like to thank all of our witnesses. I look forward to hearing your statements.

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