In a Heated Election Year, Voters Can Count on Their Election Officials | Opinion

Voting is under way in primaries across the country, and more than 100 million voters are expected to cast ballots in the general election this fall. It is important that Americans have confidence in the integrity of their elections and in the ability of election officials to conduct a fair, transparent, and accurate process. As election officials ourselves, we have full confidence we'll achieve that, both in our own jurisdictions and around the country.

However, misinformation and disinformation about election officials and workers since 2020 have led to a surge in threats against them for doing their jobs, leading to anxiety and many resigning their positions. These public servants will be critical to the success of this year's elections, and we want Americans to share our confidence in the fair and accurate outcome of the elections and in the conduct of election officials. We know the community of election officials around the country will go to great lengths to do their jobs to the highest standard of impartiality and integrity.

There are roughly 10,000 election jurisdictions across all 50 states—from the municipal and county level to statewide elections offices—and they all follow a different mix of laws, regulations, and procedures. But the values and ethics that drive election officials across the country are the same: impartiality, integrity, and transparency. Both of us work in election administration and know firsthand how these ethical principles ensure our elections are fair and worthy of voters' trust. While we come from different states and different parties, we are both part of the same community of election professionals and follow the same standards of conduct.

Election officials are passionate and dedicated public servants who work hard to run election processes voters can trust. We are all part of the communities we serve. Officials undergo extensive training for their roles and abide by professional standards of conduct that commit us to upholding the law and the U.S. Constitution, remaining impartial, being accessible to our constituents, and much more. We are dedicated public servants who take our responsibilities extremely seriously and put aside personal beliefs and political preferences to ensure that all eligible voters have an equal opportunity to cast their ballot for the candidates and causes they prefer.

When you enter a role that requires nonpartisanship like election administration, it is important to have a code of ethics that outlines how to do your job in a nonpartisan way, which is why the standards of conduct election officials follow are so important. They provide a nonpartisan baseline to follow and to which we are all committed. Our jobs are to facilitate voting, follow the law, and increase transparency and trust around elections.

At the end of the day, we follow the law that is set for us, regardless of our personal opinions and beliefs. It's not up to us to make the law, but to carry it out. Even amid unprecedented challenges like those we faced in 2020, from the COVID-19 public health crisis upending voting procedures, to election skepticism inflamed by misinformation and disinformation, election officials rallied to lawfully carry out a secure and accurate election.

One of our most important duties is building trust within our communities. We do that by being transparent and accessible. We're clear about how we go about upholding the law and administering elections fairly. When voters have questions or approach our work with skepticism, we engage with them openly to address their concerns and give them transparent information. We also proactively engage in communities and with elected officials around our work and ensure everyone is aware of who we are, what we do, and why we are confident in our elections process. This transparency, openness, and willingness to stand behind our work is replicated in communities around the country. Election officials are here to make sure, to the best of our ability, that voters feel as confident as we do that everyone's vote matters.

We do this work because we want all eligible voters to have a fair and equal chance to have their voice heard at the ballot box. That is what matters to election officials, no matter our background or party. We want people to vote, and it's our mission to conduct elections that give them space to do that.

Up to and following the November elections, concerns inevitably will be leveled at voting processes. Election officials will be under immense pressure and facing unexpected challenges, many with limited resources. What Americans should know is that the people running elections are not faceless, nameless people from far away—they're members of your community who follow the law and do everything possible to conduct a secure, fair, accessible election. Despite the challenges, they will faithfully carry out their duties, as election officials have done without fail since the founding of our nation.

Kristin B. Connelly is clerk-recorder of Contra Costa County, Calif.

Jennifer Scutchfield is assistant secretary of state for the state of Kentucky.

The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.