How robust is e-government in American state election administration?

New Rochelle, NY, April 13, 2020–A new study examined how well American states are using Internet-based platforms to disseminate electoral information and communicate with voters. The study, which focused on website information provided on electoral administrators’ websites, use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and responsiveness to voters’ email communication, is published in

Election Law Journal

, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Click

here

to read the full-text article free on the

Election Law Journal

website through May 13, 2020.

The article entitled

“Behind the Screens: E-Government in American State Election Administration”

was authored by Holly Ann Garnett, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston. The study analyzed the content of state election websites based on the activities they are all expected to perform, such as determining who is eligible to vote, conducting polling, and counting and tabulating the votes. The states were shown to perform well in terms of providing information about voter registration and election results. However, they had low rates of information about how to lodge complaints or report security concerns, suggesting poorer accountability and transparency in electoral management.

The study showed that U.S. state election officials have good social media presence, with 82% of states having a Facebook page and 88% of states having a Twitter handle.

Election Law Journal Editor-in-Chief David Canon, University of Wisconsin, states: “In this period of uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the ability for election officials to communicate digitally with voters is increasingly important. With more elections moving online or to mailed ballots, having a better understanding of electronic election administration is of critical importance. This timely article by Holly Ann Garnett should be read by everyone who is concerned with improving access to our elections during a pandemic.”

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About the Journal

Election Law Journal


is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published quarterly online with open access options and in print that provides global, interdisciplinary coverage of election law, policy, and administration. Led by Editor-in-Chief David Canon, University of Wisconsin, the Journal covers the field of election law for practicing attorneys, election administrators, political professionals, legal scholars, and social scientists, and covers election design and reform on the federal, state, and local levels. Complete tables of contents and a sample issue are available on the


Election Law Journal


website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research and law, including Biotechnology Law Report, Gaming Law Review and Economics, and Environmental Justice. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s 90 journals, books, and newsletters is available on the

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

website.