By Ankush Bhandari
On March 25, 2025, US President Donald J Trump signed an executive order “PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS”, which starts with section 1 stating “Purpose and Policy. Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing. India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship. In tabulating votes, Germany and Canada require use of paper ballots, counted in public by local officials, which substantially reduces the number of disputes as compared to the American patchwork of voting methods that can lead to basic chain-of-custody problems. Further, while countries like Denmark and Sweden sensibly limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person and do not count late-arriving votes regardless of the date of postmark, many American elections now feature mass voting by mail, with many officials accepting ballots without postmarks or those received well after Election Day.
Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election”.
The Executive Order has total 11 sections which includes Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections, Providing Other Assistance to States Verifying Eligibility, Improving the Election Assistance Commission, Prosecuting Election Crimes, Improving Security of Voting Systems, Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day. Preventing Foreign Interference and Unlawful Use of Federal Funds, Federal Actions to Address Executive Order 14019, Severability, and General Provisions
Now, many across the aisle have raised the question, whether the Purpose mentioned in President Trump’s Executive Order is really the need of the hour or not.
What is Election Integrity?
A democracy is not just a form of government; it is a powerful platform that empowers citizens to choose their leaders.
In a truly democratic society, the unwavering commitment to fairness, stability, and liberty ensures that every eligible citizen can engage fully and equally in the electoral process, fostering deep trusts in the system.
Electoral integrity stands as the foundation of democratic values, serving as a vital benchmark that may vary across different jurisdictions.
Democratic societies thrive and prosper when they uphold these fundamental principles of electoral integrity, including:
1. Fairness: Democracy and fairness are inherently linked. Every citizen must possess the same rights to influence who governs them, ensuring that each voice is heard and valued.
2. Transparency: Transparent elections are essential for exposing corruption and preventing unjust advantages. This crucial safeguard fortifies trust in democracy, empowering citizens to believe in the integrity of the electoral process.
3. Inclusivity: Inclusivity is at the heart of democracy. It is imperative to dismantle barriers to electoral participation so that every eligible individual can exercise their right to vote.
By ensuring that every voice matters, societies reinforce the very essence of democracy.
Together, these principles can elevate our democratic systems and nurture a society where each citizen feels empowered and respected.
How US Constitution Protects Election Integrity?
US Federal and State Government, private sector organizations, and election experts including policy analysts along with devoted citizen volunteers at polling stations, are committed to upholding the integrity of our electoral processes.
They depend on established election frameworks to ensure compliance with laws and safeguard citizens’ rights during elections.
Title 52 of the United States Code is pivotal in shaping our voting and election laws, comprising three essential sections: –
- Subtitle I: Voting Rights
- Subtitle II: Voting Assistance and Election Administration
- Subtitle III: Federal Campaign Finance
Subtitles I and II lay the groundwork for legal electoral processes on Election Day, establishing rigorous standards and goals for electoral integrity.
While every jurisdiction must adhere to federal election laws, the specific legal and procedural frameworks often vary from state to state. For example, voting regulations related to voter registration and ballot casting can differ considerably, which can inadvertently create confusion and uncertainty about election security among voters.
However, to combat misinformation and ensure transparency, election officials diligently conduct audits before, during, and after elections to instil confidence in the electoral system. These audits serve a critical purpose: –
- Confirming the accurate operation of voting systems
- Ensuring adherence to established regulations and policies
- Detecting and rectifying any discrepancies
How Election Integrity and Modern Day Democracy are lip locked?
Understanding electoral integrity is vital for grasping the trajectory of democracy, as history sheds light on its potential future.
The term “democracy” derives from the Greek word “Demokratia,” and while its foundations are often credited to ancient Greek societies, the essence of democratic governance can be traced back even further.
In many early civilizations, including ancient Indus Valley (Indian) civilization and Mesopotamia, collective forms of governance emerged as a compelling counter to autocratic rule. Councils and assemblies played a crucial role in imposing checks on the authority of powerful leaders.
Although modern democratic institutions primarily took shape in Europe, it was in North America that the concept of democracy truly blossomed, with the United States leading the way in the late 18th century.
Today, however, the state of electoral integrity in the United States is concerning, ranking lower than many of its liberal democratic counterparts.
The Electoral Integrity Project places the U.S. at No. 15 out of 29 evaluated nations[1]. This report underscores several troubling facts:
1. Canada consistently outperforms the United States in North America.
2. Finland, Sweden, and Denmark stand at the pinnacle of electoral quality.
3. Remarkably, democracies outside of Europe—such as Cape Verde, Taiwan, and New Zealand—demonstrate high rates of electoral integrity.
These findings highlight an urgent need for reform and a recommitment to safeguarding the integrity of our (American) electoral processes.
It is imperative that we learn from the success of other nations and take bold steps to enhance our own democratic practices.
How is Election Integrity Achieved?
Voting at all levels—federal, state, and local—is the cornerstone of American democracy.
To uphold this vital system, citizens must have unwavering confidence in our electoral processes and their outcomes.
Strengthening electoral integrity and increasing voter participation can be achieved through the following measures:
1. Guaranteeing that every eligible citizen has the right and opportunity to vote.
2. Fostering voter literacy to empower informed decision-making.
3. Maximizing participation to reflect the true will of the people.
4. Safeguarding critical election infrastructure, including secure storage facilities, accessible polling places, and centralized vote tabulation sites, to ensure a transparent electoral process.
5. Protecting essential information and communications technology—such as voter registration databases, voting machines, and other electoral management systems—to prevent electoral violence and instill trust in the results.
By prioritizing these actions, we can fortify our democracy and ensure that every voice is heard and counted.
Source :- foley.wsu.edu
Why Election Integrity is an “Uphill Journey”?
Trust deficits in democracies often derive from a lack of election integrity, also called as electoral integrity by some democracies.
Although “Election Integrity” refers to the fairness and transparency of an election, as well as adherence to rules and norms but it has become cliché in recent times.
Although many reports and researches point it to the outside forces to be blame for compromising electoral integrity, but the fact is that most times, problem of trust lies within the electoral process itself.
According to a 2020 study in Quality & Quantity, citizens who voted for a losing candidate were less likely to believe that an election outcome was fair, decreasing political trust.
Many factors have been seen hurdles for achieving Election Integrity
- Foreign Intervention
Foreign threats to U.S. elections include both election interference and influence. A National Intelligence Council (NIC) assessment from March 2021 revealed that the Russian government attempted to interfere in the 2016 presidential election by accessing U.S. election infrastructure. Although all these reports were later found to be bogus and unfair.
While no similar attempts were reported in 2020, left wings tried hard to spread it’s woke narrative that Russia reportedly spread influence narratives to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
- Latest Technology & Artificial Intelligence
Since the internet was first utilized in 1996 presidential campaigns, technology in elections has advanced significantly. However, voter rigging and voter’s fraud in the 2020 election have eroded public trust, causing many to view electronic voting as unreliable.
The role of social media and advancements in generative artificial intelligence has raised concerns about misinformation in the current election cycle. To combat this, most states have adopted hybrid voting systems with both paper ballots and electronic counting.
- Voter Identification Card
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states have voter ID laws that either require or request identification at the ballot box.
Supporters argue these laws prevent fraud and increase voter confidence, while opponents claim they disproportionately burden underrepresented communities, as fraud is rare.
- Gerrymandering
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution permits states to redraw voting districts. The Supreme Court’s decision in historic case of Wesberry v. Sanders mandates that districts have roughly equal populations, ensuring every vote is equal.
However, gerrymandering undermines this principle by manipulating district boundaries to favor one political party, making it challenging for opposing voters to elect their representatives, which contradicts the ideals of free and fair elections.
Time to Fix Voter Fraud and Maintain Election Integrity
It’s a big question that why US election integrity is at stake even though on the global stage, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) plays an essential role in supporting other nations in establishing robust standards and goals to ensure electoral integrity.
The credibility of an election is the cornerstone of its fairness.
An election is deemed credible when its outcome genuinely reflects the will of the people, when the process leading to that outcome is both transparent and inclusive, and when there is a shared trust among voters, election officials, and political parties.
At the heart of fair and credible elections lies the principle of equality.
Political parties must have equal opportunities to compete, while voters should enjoy unfettered access to choose their preferred candidates. While laws uphold the fundamental principles of equal rights, it is essential to protect these freedoms through impartial, nonpartisan observation. Moreover, fair elections adhere to a consistent cycle. For instance, U.S. presidential elections are held every four years, and midterm elections for the Senate and House of Representatives occur every two years. This establishes a sense of continuity and interconnectedness in the electoral process.
In sharp contrast, autocratic regimes may hold elections, but these are often mere spectacles, tightly controlled and devoid of genuine democratic spirit.
To ensure truly free and fair elections, the following vital elements must be prioritized:-
- Protecting the rights of eligible voters
- Every citizen deserves the right to participate in the electoral process without fear of intimidation or harassment.
- Strengthening election management and political participation
- Robust election management bodies and political parties must have equal access to voters to foster genuine competition.
- Reforming and enhancing election processes
- Addressing concerns, investigating complaints, and ensuring accountability are crucial for maintaining integrity in the electoral system.
- Empowering voter education
- Providing reliable and trustworthy information is a key to increasing voter turnout and participation, helping citizens make informed decisions.
- Mitigating electoral violence
- A safe electoral environment is essential for justice and fairness in elections.
- Breaking down barriers for marginalized groups.
- Removing obstacles that hinder participation ensures a more representative democracy.
- Supporting election officials
- Equipping officials with essential resources and training empowers them to uphold electoral standards effectively.
- Protecting the electoral process.
- Preventing manipulation by politicians or special interests is vital to preserving the authenticity of election outcomes.
- Developing secure and accessible election systems
- Accuracy and accessibility in election processes build public confidence.
- Safeguarding elections from interference
- Protecting the electoral process from both foreign adversaries and domestic political entities is critical to maintaining our democratic integrity.
By emphasizing these foundational principles, we can ensure that elections are not just procedural events but genuine reflections of the people’s will, paving the way for a stronger, more democratic society.
This process can fortify our democracy and ensure that every citizen’s voice is heard and respected.
Conclusion:
Despite the increasing global concern surrounding failing elections, there remains a significant gap in our systematic understanding of this critical issue. Previous research has been fragmented across various disciplines and regions, often lacking clarity and robust theoretical frameworks.
As a result, many vital aspects of electoral management have been neglected, pushed to the sidelines of public administration.
Oversimplified “Pass-Fail” evaluations of election quality fail to provide the in-depth analysis that analysts require and offer minimal guidance for policymakers.
The integrity of elections is essential for several compelling reasons.
It strengthens political legitimacy by bolstering public confidence in electoral institutions, fostering a sense of external political efficacy, and enhancing satisfaction with democratic governance. Moreover, it galvanizes civic engagement, leading to increased voter turnout and heightened civic activism, while simultaneously diminishing the tendency towards protest politics.
By improving political representation, electoral integrity enhances accountability, making elected officials more responsive to the delivery of both individual and collective goods.
Furthermore, it contributes to societal security by ensuring all groups are represented in the electoral process, which can alleviate the underlying grievances that often spark electoral violence, civil unrest, and even civil wars. Ultimately, the integrity of our electoral processes is pivotal for the advance of democratization, supporting the essential consolidation of democratic practices, norms, and institutions.
In a world where the health of democracy hinges on the quality of elections, prioritizing electoral integrity is not just necessary—it is an imperative for sustaining democratic governance and fostering a more equitable society.
This can fortify our democracy and ensure that every citizen’s voice is heard and respected.
[1] Electoral Integrity: Challenges, Goals and Resources | Hilbert College Global Campus
