• OAVS
  • Declaration
  • Bill of Right
  • Voting Security Rights
    • Election Transparency
    • Balanced Election Governance
    • Election Accountability and Enforcement
    • Ballot Chain of Custody
    • Ballot Request Authentication
    • Voter Registration Integrity
    • Secure Ballot Casting
    • Vote Count Integrity
    • Confidential Ballot Security
  • Voting Security Rights

Balanced Election Governance:


Securing fair elections with balanced management, empowered citizen oversight, and barriers to one-party control

Partisan-balanced election management is critical to safeguarding the fair execution of voting security and election laws. Granting one political party control over election policies, procedures, and enforcement invites the risk of one-party rule, undermining the will of the citizens. Every vulnerability that could distort election outcomes must be eliminated — and that protection begins with the structure and accountability of those managing elections.

Partisan-Balanced Election Management Offices (EMO)

State and local governments must establish Partisan-Balanced Election Management Offices (EMO) responsible for executing, enforcing, investigating, and ensuring compliance with all voting security and election laws, as enacted by the legislature. Each Election Management Office shall: Be led by a board of officers comprised of three members selected by popular vote, and Include one officer appointed by each political party through a process determined by the parties themselves. Candidates appearing on the ballot are prohibited from serving in any Election Management role.

Term Restrictions and Staggering of Service

Election Management Officials shall serve no more than four-year terms. Service shall be limited to two terms. Staggered appointments are required: new officers shall be sworn in every two years, ensuring complete turnover within six years. No single political party shall have a majority number of officers.

Legal Duty and Accountability

Election Management Officials are legally bound to faithfully execute all voting security and election laws as defined by the legislature. Officials must swear an oath to uphold the will of the people, executing their duties with integrity, impartiality, and strict compliance. State and local legislative bodies shall hold EMOs accountable for any failures, misconduct, or derelictions of duty.

Preserving Local Community Unity Through Districting

Recognizing that local communities are naturally bound by geography, shared governance, and common bonds, it is essential to prevent external partisan manipulation of electoral districts. To this end: Districting authority shall rest with the partisan-balanced Election Management Office. Districting restrictions shall include: - All cities and towns within a district must reside within the same county. - Towns with fewer than 25,000 eligible voters shall not be divided into separate districts. - Large metropolitan districts must remain within their city boundaries and shall not cross into surrounding towns. - When a city or town is divided into multiple districts, interior borders must be limited to no more than 10 straight lines, confined within the municipal boundary. These requirements ensure that local communities maintain their collective political voice without fragmentation or external political dilution.

Prohibition of Private Funding

To preserve public trust and impartial governance, the private funding of election offices and officials must be strictly prohibited. Election administration must remain wholly public, accountable only to the citizens and the law — not to private interests.

Closing

Balanced, citizen-accountable election management is essential to free and fair elections. Without strict protections against partisan domination, private influence, or district manipulation, the foundational principle of consent of the governed cannot survive.
Organization for the Advancement of Voting Security
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