A Resolution Proposing Nonpartisan Administration of Federal Elections


Whereas, federal elections are currently managed at the municipal and county levels, and the principal authority at the state-level is a Secretary of State; and

whereas, such partisan and elected politicians control federal elections; and

whereas, such control creates a conflict of interest that is tolerated in almost no other modern democracy; and

whereas, as we have seen in Ohio and Florida in the past two presidential elections, close elections and voting problems can cast a harsh light on the actions of such election officials, who often campaign for candidates running in the very elections they supervise; and

whereas, even people in such a position who try to perform their duties in an unbiased way fall victim to the appearance of a conflict of interest; and

whereas, elections are a bedrock of our nation's democracy; and

whereas, there is a need to insure the integrity of federal elections; therefore

be it resolved, that the Michigan Democratic Party work to take partisan control out of all aspects of federal elections; and

be it further resolved, that the Michigan Democratic Party work to introduce and enact legislation to administer all federal elections in a nonpartisan fashion, in consonance with the Report of the American University Center for Democracy and Election Management's 2005 Carter-Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform, which will:

  1. Establish an Independent Election Commission to conduct all primary, general and special federal elections. The election-related responsibilities of all offices will be transferred to the Commission.

  1. Have a Chief Elections Officer supervise the conduct of elections; develop and implement uniform training programs for election officials; maintain an accurate and integrated registration list; establish standards for voting equipment; aggregate, certify, and announce election results; report to the Congress and the public on the state of the electoral process and ways to improve it; certify voting technology; and prepare voter education materials; among other duties.

  1. Have a Chief Elections Officer who should be nonpartisan and of demonstrated integrity, independence, and public credibility. The procedure for selecting and confirming the individual will be designed to assure that the person is viewed by political parties as nonpartisan. The person is nominated by the President from a list of candidates developed by the leadership of the parties in the Senate, which must then confirm the nominee by a super-majority (three-fourths) vote. Provisions will be made for filling the position temporarily in the case of gridlock.

  1. Have the Chief Election Officer appoints a staff director and general counsel for the commission, both of whom must be nonpartisan.

  1. Establish a Division of the Independent Election Commission in each of the states to assist with the administration of federal elections in that state.

  1. Establish an Advisory Committee to meet quarterly with the Chief Elections Officer in public to provide technical advice and assure the transparency of the electoral process. The Committee is composed of representatives of the political parties, election administrators, law enforcement agencies, community and civil rights groups, and experts in different elements of election administration and technology.

  1. Permit any person to file a complaint with the Division of the Independent Election Commission. In order to assess the complaint, conduct investigations, and enforce the law, the Division Director shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and the authority to impose a civil monetary penalty and/or issue a cease-and-desist order if a person has violated or is about to violate a state election law. The Chief Election Officer may prescribe rules and regulations to implement the election law and assure uniform voting in the states, and has litigation authority to bring or defend an action under the statute.

  1. Prohibit partisan activities by election officials.

  1. Guarantee election observers access to the electoral process.

  1. Establish a funding formula to provide for uniform elections across the states. This formula shall be sufficient to fund state and local elections held concurrently with federal elections.


Submitted to the Michigan Democratic Party 
by the Iosco County Democratic Party

January 8, 2009

Sandra Shelton

Secretary