[EL] about the new Presidential Commission on Election Administration

[Greenberg, Kevin]

Larry,

We should accept what the Commission can do and what it can't.  Yes, it can't change local law.   

It can identify best practices that are starting points.  It can recommend federal mandates for federal elections.  But the most important thing that it can -- and should -- do is recommend that Congress create incentives for state law changes that match or track best practices.  

HAVA money did a lot of good.  If this Commission comes up with meaningful suggestions, and Congress ties it to a substantial chunk of funding (sure, the House leadership will do this), there can be real change that makes it easier for all legitimate votes to be cast.  Maybe not everywhere, but in most places.

Kevin


-----Original Message-----
From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Larry Levine
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:00 PM
To: 'Doug Hess'; 'Election Law'
Subject: Re: [EL] about the new Presidential Commission on Election Administration

Be frightened. Be very, very frightened. No good has ever come out of a commission created to clean up politics, campaigns, or election administration. They are detached from the everyday operations of campaigns, or in this case election administration. They will hear a million ideas from a thousand secretaries of state and local registrars of voters. Many will be just plain stupid. And when it's over they will have no authority to impose anything on any local or state jurisdiction. They can create rules and standards for federal elections, but that won't mean any city clerk or registrar anywhere will want to do what the commission says. Remember, the hanging chads in Florida were no different than the hanging chads in Fresno CA 20 years earlier. But no election official anywhere would want to admit their way isn't the best way. So, they fixed the problem in CA and everyone else just blundered along. Be hopeful if you wish. There's plenty that needs to be done. But who's going to tell some local election official how many voting booths he or she must have per 500 voters, or when early voting must begin and which days it must be available and how many locations there must be. Be frightened. Be very, very frightened. 
Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
[mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Doug Hess
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 8:36 AM
To: Election Law
Subject: [EL] about the new Presidential Commission on Election Administration

Regarding the new Presidential Commission on Election Administration (PCEA perhaps?), in what capacity does such a body exist? Is it created by executive order? Is it funded out of a pot of money the White House has for special projects? Or will Congress authorize funds for it in some manner or have any role in creating it? I assume it has no authority (other than over some staffing and budget for research, travel, publication, etc.). Correct?

Just wondering what kind of "animal" these commissions are (or can be).

Douglas R. Hess, PhD
Washington, DC
ph. 202-277-6400
douglasrhess at gmail.com

Starting Aug. 2013:
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
Grinnell College
1210 Park Street
Grinnell, IA 50112-1670
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