Kennedy and Dole Institutes announce funding from the Election Trust Initiative supporting ‘Bolstering Elections’ initiative

 

November 12, 2024 (Boston, MA) – The Edward M. Kennedy Institute and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics have recently been awarded funding from the Election Trust Initiative for their Bolstering Elections initiative to promote investment in America’s critical elections infrastructure. The collaboration between the institutes seeks to highlight needed resources to administer secure and resilient elections, with a particular focus on state and local funding models, and help catalyze action.

The Department of Homeland Security designated elections as a critical infrastructure sector in 2017, yet there is no national standard or policy to sustainably fund elections systems, leaving states and local regions to define it for themselves. With public trust in election results deteriorating and frontline election workers leaving the field at alarming rates, pressure is mounting on state and local election systems and administrators. The impact of insufficient resources for this essential government service has failed to be addressed.

With the 2024 election cycle completed, the Kennedy and Dole Institutes seek to draw attention to the lack of investment in the American electoral administration and processes. The institutes have assembled over a dozen top academics and experts in the field of election administration to raise awareness about the impact of limited resources on elections administrators and to educate policymakers on models of success across the country.

The Bolstering Elections initiative addresses critical baseline questions to inform future policy recommendations. These questions include themes such as, how does election funding vary across states and regions? What are best practices and data that equip Administrators to advocate for election funding for their jurisdictions? How can we inform policy makers at the state and federal level about the need to invest in sustainable election funding?

Kennedy Institute CEO Adam Hinds said, “Senators Dole and Kennedy leveraged the power of their relationship into meaningful and lasting elections policy for the good of all Americans. It is time for this generation to do the same. Our goal is to support the tireless elections administrators who are the backbone of our democracy. We need a strong 21st century election system in America, and part of achieving that is understanding the range of funding sources and options today.”

“We’re inspired by our namesakes’ bipartisan engagement on voting rights and respect for the institutions and processes of American governance,” said Audrey Coleman, director of the Dole Institute. “Local administration of elections is essential, yet resources are uneven and often inadequate to support the complex infrastructure a modern election demands. This initiative examines various ways in which that gap can be closed to promote safety, security, and trust in our electoral processes.”

With support from the Election Trust Initiative, the institutes aim to create a landmark report that equips Election Administrators at the state and local level with data and research to inform policymakers about the need for increased investment in our elections infrastructure to bolster our electoral systems.

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About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. The Institute benefits from the robust participation of national leaders on its Board of Directors, including 8 former US Senators. To learn more, visit www.emkinstitute.org

About the Dole Institute of Politics

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a vibrant forum for civil discourse, civic engagement, and idea exchange across the political spectrum, features historical archives, exhibits, and public programs for all ages. Inspired by the public service of native Kansan, veteran, legislator, and statesman Senator Bob Dole and his wife Senator Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained glass American flag, and September 11 memorial. To learn more, visit www.doleinstitute.org