Welcome to the home of the Virginia Institute for Public Policy on virginiainstitute.org!

Welcome to the home of the Virginia Institute for Public Policy on virginiainstitute.org!

Category Election Reform

Staff Spotlight: Melody Clarke, Deputy Director, EIN

Melody Himel Clarke joined the Institute in 2023 and is the Election Integrity Network’s deputy director for the eastern states.

She also serves as the director of government affairs at Virginia Institute Action where she is essential in coordinating advocacy efforts such as in-person testimony, media campaigns, and maintaining robust relations with grassroots supporters and the media.

Even before joining the Institute, Melody was known as a leader throughout Virginia for her work on public policy, advocacy, coalition building, and activist training. Melody is a lifelong entrepreneur and small business owner with over four decades of management and team-building experience. She is Christian, married, and for fun enjoys equestrian activities, recreational shooting, and is learning to bird hunt with her Wirehaired Vizslas.

The Federalist: Voters Prohibit ‘Zuckbucks’-Style Private Funding And Staff From Wisconsin Elections

This insightful article delves into the recent decision by Wisconsin voters to pass two pivotal constitutional amendments, thereby fortifying the integrity and impartiality of their electoral process. These amendments aim to staunch the flow of private funding in elections and ensure that only legally appointed officials are at the helm of election administration— a direct countermeasure against the controversial “Zuckbucks”-style electioneering, where substantial private funds, notably from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, were injected into the electoral system to predominately benefit Democrat-majority counties. The article also highlights the relentless efforts of conservative groups and activists across Wisconsin, who worked tirelessly to mobilize voters and secure the passage of these amendments. These measures are seen as a significant step towards preventing potential biases and irregularities in future elections, although questions remain about the impact of previously accepted private grants on upcoming elections. In sum, the article underscores the importance of grassroots activism and coordinated efforts among organizations in achieving these electoral reforms, reflecting a commitment to maintaining the fairness and integrity of the electoral process.

Click here to read the full article at The Federalist.

 

Epoch Times: Grassroots Election Integrity Movement Sweeps Battleground States

This article was originally published in The Epoch Times.

At ten past five in the morning on Election Day in 2021, retired construction company owner Warren Jenkins slid into his business-casual attire in a panic, knowing he had to get to the polling station in 20 minutes. He was the only Republican poll watcher at an important precinct.

Jenkin’s wife, prescient, pre-made lunch for her husband, who then arrived at the polls to begin his 15-hour shift—from 5:30 a.m. to about 9 p.m.—just in time.

As a volunteer poll watcher in Virginia, Jenkins would… [Click HERE to read more.]

Virginia Absentee Ballots: Absent From the State?

For election accountability purposes, chain of custody for ballots should be observable and publicly verifiable. So, why are two of the largest counties in Virginia, as well as other localities, planning to expand the chain of custody to include a third-party absentee ballot processing company from Washington state, who was caught red-handed ignoring the security measures built into the law?

Before 2021, absentee ballots were mailed from local registrars’ offices and processed and supervised by the registrar’s staff. In 2021, a bill (SB 1239) was passed that permits localities to hire a third-party company to print, assemble, and mail absentee ballots. Once hired, this vendor receives the name, address, precinct, district and voter ID information for individual voters. In Loudoun County, for example, the list of permanent absentee ballots that would be handed over to the private vendor would number around 15,000. 

Last year, Fairfax County, the most populous county in Virginia, outsourced the printing and mailing of their absentee ballots to a company called K&H located in Washington State. K&H failed to follow Virginia law. They did not sign a legally required (VA Code 24.2-616) oath before they began their work. The law says, “The printer contracting with or employed by the electoral board or general registrar to print the ballots shall sign a statement before the work is commenced…” A public information request found that the vendor failed to comply with Virginia law and did not sign the oaths until months after the election was over. 

Entrusting bulk absentee ballots, the most fraud-prone part of  our elections, to strangers on the other side of the country is a bad idea. Some ballots are going to people who may not have recently asked for them, the chain of custody barely exists, and private voter information is being handled by a third-party company. If all that starts to look like a nightmare in the making, in real life it gets much worse.

Loudoun County recently announced they may also follow Fairfax County and make a similar contract with the same vendor for the upcoming 2022 General Election. Judy Brown, the Loudoun County registrar, was advised against outsourcing by local citizens and election security advocates including a Loudoun County election integrity working group, former State Board of Elections member Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler, Delegate Dave LaRock, and the nonpartisan, statewide, Virginia Fair Elections coalition, as well as many others. 

She had reportedly decided against the initial plan to outsource their county’s absentee ballot printing and mailing process only to flip flop without explanation. 

The number of absentee votes cast have skyrocketed over the last couple of years. In Virginia, several laws were hastily enacted to expand the duration of elections and the processes used to distribute and process ballots. The often exaggerated precautions associated with COVID-19 were used to justify large-scale expansion of absentee voting. A new state law passed in 2020 (HB 207) opened absentee voting to any qualified voter, regardless of circumstance. The same law allowed for voters to be added to a “permanent absentee” list so a person could opt-in to receive a mailed absentee ballot for all future elections. 

Virginia localities have demonstrated that they are capable of handling large batches of absentee ballots. Loudoun handled about 80,000 absentee ballots in 2020. That number dropped significantly in 2021 to about 23,000 ballots. The process requires diligent care and attention to detail. Some registrars may consider steps such as hiring more staff, or implementing a stricter employment application process. 

For some, the motivation to outsource the process is a new requirement (SB 3) that absentee ballots now be sorted and reported by precinct. That means localities might be handling many different ballots in the same election; yes a challenge, but if a private company can handle it, so a registrar should be able to as well. One option for sorting ballots has been successfully used for more than 10 years in Chesapeake; their locality orders ballots that already have special barcodes that allow sorting by precinct. 

There is clear consensus among many who are scrutinizing this process that this is a bad practice and are opposed to outsourcing to third-parties. They see outsourcing as problematic and flawed and hope that all 133 jurisdictions in Virginia will maintain the integrity of elections in printing and mailing all ballots, especially absentee ballots; one of the best practices would be to keep absentee ballot printing and mailing processes in-state and in-house.

Outsourcing the absentee ballot process will give good reason for Virginia’s voters to question election integrity at a time when voter faith in elections is already greatly diminished.

2022 Legislative Report: Election Integrity

ELECTION INTEGRITY – Restoring Trust in Virginia’s Elections

Do you trust your vote counts? If a medical pulse was taken on America’s trust in our election processes, the results would be alarming— some would say fatal. One author1 quantified the problem this way: “After the last election cycle, confidence is waning: Less than 60%2 of all voters were confident that ballots would be accurately cast and counted.” The result of this mistrust is that fewer people show up at the polls to take part in the democratic process of governing and we lose representation of the rich diversity that makes us who we are.

However, as the populace has increasingly lost trust in elections, a large infusion of new energy and support for finding solutions has surfaced. Those who advocate for increased election integrity, also often called election security, believe it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat in the process for our citizenry to select public servants. Yet, current Virginia laws and regulations make it easy to vote and easy to cheat — similar problems are pervasive across the nation. Knowing that the laws are not robust enough to inhibit voter fraud only exacerbates the populace’s mistrust in elections. When election processes are vulnerable to being manipulated with only minimal energy and time required to do so, Virginians’ sacred right to vote is jeopardized.

How can we restore “liberty and justice for all” voters? Good election policy at the state level is the best place to start. To prevent even the temptation for a person to commit voter fraud, it is desirable to safeguard our elections by passing laws to make it difficult to vote more than once or otherwise unduly influence voting results and interfere with the will of “we the people.” Although dozens and dozens of bills that touched on aspects of election security were introduced during this past 2022 Virginia Legislative Session, only a few were passed by the legislature and sent to the Governor’s desk. Below you will find a roadmap of bills introduced this session and some of the strong ideas that lawmakers advanced to secure our elections.

Click here to review the Virginia Institute’s full Legislative Report: Election Integrity (2022).

2021.08.20-21 | Virginia Election Integrity Summit II

Why you should be at the Virginia Election Integrity Summit II!

If you think the infiltration of “Zuck Bucks” into Virginia’s registrar offices and our electoral process is bad, wait until you see what’s happening now! There are only two states with elections this year, and Virginia is one of them. If we don’t act now, and keep an ever watchful eye, Virginia will be the progressive left’s Guinea pig for election reform… moving us further from true election integrity.

Will you join us in our stand to restore trust and faith in Virginia’s elections? Join us in making it easy to vote, but hard to cheat. Join us for VFE’s Election Integrity Summit II on August 20-21 in Richmond.

Registration includes your meals with comments from these outstanding speakers:

  • Ken Cuccinelli | Chairman of the Election Integrity Transparency Initiative and former Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia
  • Scott Walter | President of the Capital Research Center and former Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy

WORKSHOPS & TRAINING SESSIONS | Register HERE.

Election Integrity Training for Election Workers and Poll Watchers:  Virginians begin voting on September 17th. We need 15,000 slots filled for election workers and poll watchers.  You will learn Virginia’s election laws and procedures, what to look for, how to make sure the laws are followed, and how to get signed up to make sure the election this fall is fair and honest. Taught by:  Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler, Senior Fellow with the Virginia Institute for Public Policy and Virginia’s top expert on election statutes and procedures and Melody Clarke, Senior Regional Coordinator for Heritage Action.

Emergency Project to Document Potential Illegal Registrations:  There are literally thousands of voter registration confirmations being returned to the General Registrars offices.  We need volunteers to help document the returned envelopes and what the GRs are doing about those.  We must make sure that the voter rolls for this fall’s election are not populated with phantom or illegal registrations.  Taught by:  Aimee David, Senior Fellow with the Virginia Institute for Public Policy and J. Christian Adams, President and General Counsel of Public Interest Legal Foundation. 

Preparing for the Post Election, War Rooms, and Recounts:  It is crucial to an honest election that we are ready for the post-election, and know how to anticipate, document and plan for addressing significant problems once voting begins.  Taught by:   Lee Goodman, former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission and longtime VA attorney who has presided over several Virginia recounts and Brenda Hankins, a Partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, focusing her practice on Political and Election law.

Recruiting, Scheduling and Deploying Poll Observers:   The recruitment, scheduling and deployment of trained poll watchers is the key to honest elections in Virginia in 2021.  Learn how to do that in your own county and voting unit.  Taught by:  Melody Clarke, Senior Regional Coordinator for Heritage Action.

Researching How Your Local Election Office Conducts YOUR Elections:  There are many questions that have swirled around the voting systems and protocols of the 2020 election.   Citizens must be engaged and learn to be a regular presence at the election offices.  This session will provide training on the questions, the research, the information that citizens need to learn and find out about your local GR office, from voting systems, to vendors, to outside influences, to the FOIA laws to obtain information, and much more.   Taught by:  Cleta Mitchell, Esq., Senior Legal Fellow at Conservative Partnership Institute.

Vulnerable Voters Training:   Leftwing activists target the elderly, those in nursing homes, group homes, minority communities and homeless people to manipulate and unduly influence and, essentially, ‘steal’ their votes.  This session will outline how we can stop the left from preying on those voters who are most vulnerable.   Taught by:  Lori Roman, President and Tracey Miller, Vice President of American Constitutional Rights Union.   See www.ProtectVulnerableVoters.org  | www.ProtectElderlyVotes.org

SUMMIT SCHEDULE | Register HERE.

Friday, August 20

5:00 p.m. | Registration and check-in open.

6:00 p.m. | Reception

7:00 p.m. | Dinner

  • Welcome
    • Cleta Mitchell | Senior Legal Fellow, Conservative Partnership Institute
    • Lynn Taylor | President, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
  • Keynote Speaker
    • Ken Cuccinelli | Former Attorney General of Virginia, Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative, SBA List & American Principles Project

Saturday, August 21

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. | Registration and check-in open.

8:00 – 8:45 a.m. | Breakfast (Ballroom)

  • Opening Remarks
    • Lynn Taylor | President, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
  • Overview of the 2021 Election Process and Why Citizens Must Engage
    • Cleta Mitchell | Senior Legal Fellow, Conservative Partnership Institute

9:00 – 10:15 a.m. | Morning Workshops

  • Election Integrity Training Part 1 (Salon C)
    • Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler | Senior Fellow, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
  • Recruiting, Scheduling, and Deploying Poll Observers (Salon B)
    • Melody Clarke | Senior Regional Coordinator, Heritage Action for America
  • Researching How Your Local Election Office Conducts YOUR Elections (Salon A)
    • Cleta Mitchell, Esq. | Senior Legal Fellow at Conservative Partnership Institute

10:00 – 12:00 noon | Midmorning Workshop

  • Preparing for Post-Election, War Rooms, and Recounts (Amethyst Room)
    • Lee Goodman | Former Chairman, Federal Election Commission, partner at Wiley Rein, election and political law
    • Brenda Hankins | Partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, election and political law.

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | Morning Workshops

  • Election Integrity Training Part 2 (Salon C)
    • Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler | Senior Fellow, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
  • Emergency Project to Document Potential Illegal Registrations (Salon B)
    • Aimee David | Senior Fellow, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
    • Christian Adams | President & General Counsel, Public Interest Legal Foundation
  • Protecting Vulnerable Voters (Salon A)
    • Tracey Miller | Vice President, American Constitutional Rights Union

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch (Ballroom)

  • How Zuckbucks and the Left Used Charitable Dollars to Influence the 2020 Election
    • Scott Walter | President, Capital Research Center

1:45 – 3:00 p.m. | Afternoon Workshops

  • Election Integrity Training Part 1 (Salon C)
    • Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler | Senior Fellow, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
  • Recruiting, Scheduling, and Deploying Poll Observers (Salon B)
    • Melody Clarke | Senior Regional Coordinator, Heritage Action for America
  • Researching How Your Local Election Office Conducts YOUR Elections (Salon A)
    • Cleta Mitchell, Esq. | Senior Legal Fellow, Conservative Partnership Institute

3:15 – 4:30 p.m. | Afternoon Workshops

  • Election Integrity Training Part 2 (Salon C)
    • Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler | Senior Fellow, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
  • Emergency Project to Document Potential Illegal Registrations (Salon B)
    • Aimee David | Senior Fellow, Virginia Institute for Public Policy
    • Christian Adams | President & General Counsel, Public Interest Legal Foundation
  • Protecting Vulnerable Voters (Salon A)
    • Tracey Miller | Vice President, American Constitutional Rights Union

4:45 p.m. | Closing Reception

  • Sponsored by FreedomWorks
  • Voting Rights Pledge

6:00 p.m. | Summit Concludes

*Note: Summit schedule is subject to change.

REGISTER HERE.

For summit related questions or concerns, please email [email protected] or call/text 540.245.1776.

To make reservations at the Hilton Downtown Richmond, please click HERE. **Please note that the room block has filled up and is no longer available. However, you may still contact the hotel directly to make a room reservation.

Election Integrity Summit II brought to you by: