The Politics of Election Reform Luncheon

Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002 in the wake of the contested 2000 presidential election. HAVA has provided funds to the states to enable them to replace punch card voting systems, it created an Election Assistance Commission to help administer federal election laws, and has set standards for the administration of federal elections by states and local governments. HAVA has not been fully implemented however, and election problems remain, as was demonstrated in the 2002 and 2004 elections. Norman Ornstein will discuss the politics of election reform and some of the practical policy recommendations for further improvements in the administration and conduct of elections.

The luncheon featuring Norm Ornstein's talk is part of the conference, The Future of Election Reform: 2008 and Beyond, April 13-15 at the Humphrey School. The conference will feature local and national experts on election reform and voter organization.