CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A coalition of pro-democracy groups in West Virginia is urging U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito to support the "For the People Act," a broad measure in Congress to change voting, ethics and campaign-finance laws.

They're also calling on Sen. Manchin to reconsider his decision not to oppose filibusters in the Senate, which could block this voting-rights legislation.

Natalie Tennant served as West Virginia's secretary of state for eight years. She pointed out the act is especially timely, as the West Virginia Legislature considers a bill that would chip away at voting rights, following Georgia's lead.

"West Virginians want to be able to cast our ballots freely, safely and equally," said Tennant. "And if state lawmakers, county clerks and the secretary of state restrict our rights and our voting rights, West Virginians can turn to the For the People Act."

West Virginia's Senate Bill 565 would eliminate the popular Saturday before the election as an early voting day, and require a purge of voter rolls every two years instead of four.

Supporters say it would help ensure elections run smoothly. It easily passed in the state Senate and is now in the House Judiciary Committee.

The West Virginia bill also would set an earlier deadline to apply for an absentee ballot, and end the state's efforts to establish automatic voting registration at Motor Vehicle Administration offices.

Sam Hickman, executive director of the West Virginia chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said he thinks the bill would drive down the state's already low voter-participation rate.

"The results of our elections certainly do not point to any fraud or abuse having taken place," said Hickman. "West Virginia's Legislature is now also doing its best to restrict voter access in the name of preventing fraud and abuse and easing the burden on our county clerks, rather than making it easier for voters."

The For the People Act is popular across the country, with 67% of Americans supporting it, according to a national poll. And it has support across party lines, with 56% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats in favor.

New York City election integrity is under added scrutiny after Mayor Eric Adams' indictment.

Part of the indictment alleges Adams broke campaign finance laws during his 2021 mayoral bid. But some groups advocating for good government feel there is not much cause for concern.

Rachael Fauss, senior policy analyst for the group Reinvent Albany, noted the charges against Adams mean the enforcement mechanism works in New York's public matching program for political campaign funds. She said the city's Campaign Finance Board flags any suspicious patterns of contributions.

"There's a whole filing and disclosure process that candidates have to go through," Fauss explained. "By vetting those filings, the Campaign Finance Board can find where they think there are violations and, in this case, it ended up going through to the Southern District and an indictment resulted from this."

With the mayoral election next year, and Adams vehemently aiming for a second term, Fauss pointed out there are ways to bolster election integrity. One recommendation is for the Campaign Finance Board to hold campaign audits closer to elections, which could boost confidence in the process. Fauss also feels the language should be clearer on campaign contribution disclosures about the penalties a person can face.

The Campaign Finance Board is considering new rules about when to withhold matching funds from a campaign. The rules would also examine when expenses are truly independent. Fauss thinks now is not the time to make big changes, although she added they would have value in future elections.

"Their new regulations should help with enforcement. Speeding up the process for the audits I think will help give more confidence that the system is working as it should," Fauss outlined. "But you know, of course, we're in the middle of a presidential election right now, so we have other things on our minds, but the mayoral election will be here shortly in 2025."

She adds the Campaign Finance Board provides transparency about how campaigns get money. The challenge ahead is ensuring people understand what the board's data mean in terms of election integrity.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

In-person early voting begins next week in Wisconsin, which will again be in the spotlight when election results come into focus.

Officials said being an informed voter can make the next several weeks less stressful for everyone. On the campaign trail, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump continues to spread false claims tied to the 2020 election. Analysts said it is why 2024 results in swing states like Wisconsin will likely be scrutinized.

Kate Martin, city clerk in Menomonie, said they remain undeterred and are ready to oversee a free and fair election. Martin stressed a "thinking-ahead" approach by voters would be helpful for her staff.

"The less work that they have to do in order to help voters get through that process on Election Day, the better and the least frustrating it is for voters themselves," Martin explained.

To free up more time for poll workers, Martin emphasized preparation, by having required documentation on hand, including a valid ID for casting a ballot. Other proof-of-address documents, like a billing statement, can be used for registration. In general, she noted voting early helps make Election Day smoother. Tomorrow is the last day in Wisconsin to register to vote, by mail or online.

Amid ongoing divisions about election integrity, a new national report from the Movement Advancement Project outlined what happens after polls close.

Brian Hinkle, senior voting policy researcher for the project, said while there are timeline variations, all states generally take the same careful steps before results are certified.

"For many voters, they cast a ballot and that feels like the end of the process," Hinkle observed. "But in reality, that's the first step in a deliberate, specific and careful process to get the final election results."

On election night or the days after, the public gets a look at unofficial results submitted in each state. Then there are actions like canvassing to ensure the ballots cast are accurate, along with postelection audits to confirm the accuracy of results and check for errors.

After the 2020 presidential election fallout, Congress adopted new safeguards for the Electoral College counting process. Meanwhile, Hinkle pointed out Wisconsin is among only a handful of states to still not allow absentee or mail-in ballots to be processed before Election Day.

"Due to that policy or lack thereof in Wisconsin, I think we'll potentially see some delays in the counting of mail ballots and therefore, delays in unofficial results in the state this year," Hinkle projected.

He added it could potentially make Wisconsin again vulnerable to misinformation about the results.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


get more stories like this via email

With just three weeks until Election Day, Indiana's race for governor is heating up as Republican Mike Braun and Democrat Jennifer McCormick vie for the state's top office.

Both candidates have previously switched political parties, bringing a unique dynamic to the race. McCormick, who served as Indiana's Superintendent of Public Instruction, switched from Republican to Democrat, citing a shift to the right within the GOP. Braun, a former Democrat, is now running as a Republican, emphasizing a focus on conservative principles and economic growth.

Robin Winston, a political analyst and president of the Indianapolis-based Winston Terrell Group, noted McCormick's decision reflects her concerns over the state's political direction.

"The superintendent ran as a Democrat because she basically had felt that her party was moving too far to the right, pushing some extreme issues that she did not think were in sync with most people in Indiana," Winston explained.

Republicans argued their supermajority reflects widespread voter support for their platform. Braun's campaign has pushed back against claims political diversity is lacking, suggesting their stronghold allows for decisive governance aligning with Hoosier values.

Winston, whose firm does government relations, public affairs and community outreach, is concerned about the state's Republican supermajority, which he believes limits democratic engagement and political diversity.

"I don't think it's healthy for a democracy to have one party with an iron clad rule," Winston asserted. "It stymies creativity in trying to move your state forward. It eliminates the opportunity for an entire cadre of young people, particularly, to become involved in government."

Despite the criticism, Republicans argued their dominance has enabled consistent policymaking. The gubernatorial race underscores debates over personal freedoms, LGBTQ+ rights and women's reproductive rights. Winston noted such issues have become increasingly polarized compared to former Gov. Daniels' era, which emphasized economic priorities.


get more stories like this via email