
Policy
Elections
Securing the American institutions of self-government – such as free and fair elections – in a republic is a civic responsibility of every American citizen. It is an essential part of ensuring a new birth of freedom for future generations.
If government derives its power from the “consent of the governed,” as the Declaration of Independence states, then that consent must have a mechanism for being regularly expressed and renewed.
This is the role that secure elections play in America’s constitutional order: helping ensure the peaceful transfer of power and the opportunity of citizens to exercise their civic voice.
Sutherland Institute offers sound research and principled analysis on voting methods and election security. We do this to promote trusted and trustworthy voting systems and elevate the way the state of Utah assesses and refines this crucial process. We seek to protect public confidence in Utah’s elections by promoting positive reforms and increasing voters’ understanding of the security and access offered by Utah’s election procedures.
Conversations
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Why many election officials don't want to be a Republican or a Democrat
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Election officials should follow the law, not the party line
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Can election officials ever really be nonpartisan?
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Election officials should be neutral
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A public office that doesn't need a party label
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Your county clerk isn't your legislator
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Rethinking how we elect county clerks
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Should county clerks be nonpartisan? | Kevin Johnson & Brian McKenzie
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How Florida gets election results faster than California
Insights & Takeaways
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Voting for America’s future
Read More: Voting for America’s futurePerhaps Americans do not understand the power their vote wields or how to go about exercising their voting rights. The future of America and the notion of its exceptionalism lie…
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Scholarly research should help quiet political controversy around vote by mail
Read More: Scholarly research should help quiet political controversy around vote by mailDoes vote by mail help one political party over another? How does it impact voter turnout? Is fraudulent voting a problem with vote by mail? Empirical research has evaluated each…
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The politics of vote by mail
Read More: The politics of vote by mailPartisan support or opposition to absentee voting over time has varied based on political circumstances. The politics of vote by mail in Utah has been different, but national partisan interests…
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The security of vote by mail in Utah
Read More: The security of vote by mail in UtahConsideration of election security and integrity is always worthwhile. However, the evidence suggests that eliminating vote by mail for most voters is neither prudent nor necessary to secure elections in…
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A brief history of vote by mail
Read More: A brief history of vote by mailFor many voters, 2020 may have been their first experience with voting by mail. However, VBM in both the United States and Utah specifically is not new. In America, VBM…








