The task force on best practices in elections is currently developing a background report for the National Commission for Federal Election Reform. The report will examine key issues in the operation of elections and identify states and localities that have developed effective procedures for managing elections. The work of the task force has been informed by local and state elections administrators, research by academics, and other interested organizations. The report will also be available to the public and will be posted on this web site after it is submitted to the Commission.

The best practices task force has sponsored two meetings. The first examined issues related to voter registration and the maintenance of state registration lists. This meeting brought together state and local elections experts, academics, and interest group representatives. A second meeting examined issues related to access to polling placesBespecially for individuals with disabilitiesBand the way in which voters respond to different types of voting technologies.

This task force has also benefited from being able to piggyback on the work of election reform task forces that have been created by elections administrators. For example, task force coordinator David King attended the Johnson Foundation=s Wingspread Conference which was held in Racine Wisconsin. This conference was sponsored by several intergovernmental organizations, including

• The National Conference State Legislatures,
• The National Association of Counties,
• The National Association of State Election Directors,
• The National Association Secretaries of State,
• The National Association Country Recorders,
• The International Association of Clerks
• The International Institute of Municipal Clerks,
• The Elections Center,

This task force has also worked closely with the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project, which is examining all facets of election administration, from voter registration through vote counting. Several commission staff, including David King, presented at a conference held by the Caltech/MIT group in Pasadena California.

As the Commission undertakes it works, the task force will respond to questions the members have on an ongoing basis. For example, Commissioners may have questions regarding the election practices in various states, and how certain problems in elections are being addressed across the country.

As the best practices task force provides information to the Commission and issues reports, those documents will be widely available to the public, including posted at this location on our website.