Our firms helps organizations, municipalities, and states, to develop election policies that make voting procedures clearer, participation more accessible and administration more accountable.
Policy for voters and election administrators
A voting-access reform must account for what a voter needs to do and what an election administrator is authorized and able to deliver. We help organizations examine registration and information systems, ballot access, voter notices, ballot tracking and administrative procedures.
Our work can include analysis of the division of authority among the city, state and federal governments, as well as how proposed rules affect candidates, voters and election workers. The legal basis and administrative details matter at every stage.
A legislative record in voter information
Ben Kallos authored New York City’s Voter Information Portal legislation, enacted as Local Law 65 of 2016. The measure addressed online access to registration information and tracking of absentee applications and ballots. His Council work also included online voter-registration legislation and oversight of the Board of Elections.
The firm draws on that experience to evaluate whether a proposed system gives people usable information, provides an avenue to correct errors and fits the legal authority of the government implementing it.
Research and representation for reform
Our firm can research a proposed election reform, draft legislation or amendments, prepare testimony and help develop an advocacy plan. Where a legal dispute arises, the firm can assess the available cause of action, forum and remedy.
Candidates seeking petition review, objections or representation in an immediate ballot-access dispute should use the Election Law and Ballot Access service page. Policy reform and election litigation often involve different timelines and require different records.