National Academy of Public Administration Convenes Elections Working Group ahead of 2024 Election Season

Post Date: February 26, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Elections occur continuously in the United States, and local election workers are instrumental in making these elections “work.” But most people know very little about who election workers are and the challenges they face daily in shepherding the most fundamental act of democracy. We have seen that when voters lose trust in these workers and their ability to execute elections fairly and in a nonpartisan manner, they also lose confidence in election results.

The National Academy of Public Administration's Elections Working Group is hosting activities throughout 2024 to help address some of the challenges election workers face on an ongoing basis and bring their concerns to the forefront of public consciousness.

The first event of 2024 is a virtual panel, Tuesday, February 27 at 1:30 p.m., and is open to media and the public.

“Like healthcare sector workers during the pandemic, election workers are our friends and neighbors in communities across the country. They are instrumental in creating and maintaining a robust and healthy democracy,” said Terry Gerton, President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration. “As part of our ongoing efforts to increase public trust in government, we’re bringing together experts from across the country to discover what support these crucial public workers need most.”

“It is vitally important that voters have faith in every step of the election process, and helping them get to know their election workforce will go a long way to establishing trust. That includes everything from the daily responsibilities of running elections to the inherent challenges facing election administrators as a field," said Commissioner Thomas Hicks of the Election Assistance Commission "The Academy's Elections Working Group will be a great resource for public officials in 2024 and beyond."

What: The Academy's Elections Working Group Webinar - Who Are the Election Workers, and Why Should We Care?

When: Tuesday, February 27th, 2024, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

Where: ZOOM LINK REGISTRATION

Who:

Thomas Hicks (Moderator), Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission

Kathleen Hale, Director, the Election Center & Election Administration Program Director & Professor, Auburn University

Paul Gronke, Founder & Director, Elections & Voting Information Center (EVIC)

Paul Pate, Secretary of State, Iowa

MEDIA: Media planning to attend should contact Matt Hampton: mhampton@napawash.org

For more information about the Elections Working Group, contact Miles Murphy: mmurphy@napawash.org

About the National Academy of Public Administration

Chartered by Congress to provide non-partisan expert advice, the Academy is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization established in 1967 to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent organizations. Learn more at www.napawash.org

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