To address the challenges facing American democracy, the American Bar Association (ABA) established the Task Force for American Democracy. One of the Task Force’s significant contributions is the creation of a series of Working Papers aimed at analyzing issues and proposing solutions to reinforce the democratic process. A recent Working Paper titled “Increasing Trust in Our Elections” highlights an innovative approach that could enhance voter confidence in election outcomes: the establishment of Certified Election Auditors (CEAs).
The paper emphasizes the role of independent experts in reducing “information asymmetry” — a situation in which election officials (such as county clerks and secretaries of state) have more knowledge than voters about election processes. To address this, William Kresse, a Commissioner on the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and Associate Professor of Accounting at Governors State University, founded the nonprofit Institute of Election Auditors (IEA). The IEA’s mission is to train accountants as Certified Election Auditors (CEAs), ensuring a neutral and nonpartisan audit of election results.
The IEA aims to standardize election auditing procedures through specialized training, ensuring transparency and accountability. With a bipartisan Board of Directors that includes CPAs, academics, election officials and attorneys, the IEA is dedicated to maintaining its mission free from partisan bias. By training independent professionals to audit election results, the IEA seeks to add a vital layer of trust and reliability to the U.S. election system, enhancing public confidence in the democratic process.
Institute of Election Auditors 