FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2021
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Logan Elizabeth Padgett
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The James Madison Institute Releases Study Examining Election Integrity Best Practices
TALLAHASSEE – The James Madison Institute (JMI) today released a study entitled “Restoring Trust and Security in Florida Elections: Bush V. Gore to COVID-19.” The study examines the reforms to the Florida Election Code that the state legislature and Secretaries of State have adopted over the two decades since the infamous Bush v. Gore presidential election and offers a series of principles and best practices to serve as a model for the nation concerning election administration and security.
In the wake of COVID-19, Florida was able to conduct a fair, accessible, and robust election in 2020, illustrating how far the Sunshine State has come since the 2000 election. The success seen on election night in Florida is due in large part to the scores of amendments to the election code by the Florida legislature, and carried through by our Secretaries of State, over the last two decades. These modifications helped ensure that Florida’s 2020 election was conducted safely, efficiently, and successfully, despite the unprecedented global pandemic. After several states dealt with both access and security issues in the wake of 2020, the United States Congress has attempted to construct a massive federal overhaul that would destroy trust and faith in the nation’s election system. Florida stands in stark contrast to that concept – the idea that states have the tools, the capability, and the capacity to make necessary reforms.
“During the 2000 presidential election, Florida learned the hard way that massive reforms were needed to ensure a fair, secure, and accessible election. When we compare that to the 2020 election, while some states took days to even finish counting votes, Florida was able to submit votes in all 67 counties in a timely fashion and without incident. Florida now serves as a model for the rest of the country on the ways that states can modernize security while expanding access to ensure that all eligible voters are able to efficiently participate in our republic’s most sacred right.” – Dr. Robert McClure, President and CEO, The James Madison Institute.
“Over those past two decades, Florida’s electoral system has done a complete 180, not only has the state’s process been made more accessible, but in many aspects more secure and easily administrable thanks to the hard work from Florida’s lawmakers. Though no system is perfect, the 2020 election has shown that the system of delegation to the states can and does work. It is our hope that by outlining the major reforms that have been taken, the Sunshine State may serve as a model for other states as they seek to reform their own election systems.” – Sal Nuzzo, VP of Policy, The James Madison Institute.
To read “Restoring Trust and Security in Florida Elections: Bush V. Gore to COVID-19,” click here.
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The James Madison Institute is a 501©3 organization dedicated to the ideals as limited government, economic freedom, federalism and individual liberty coupled with individual responsibility. The institute conducts research on such issues as criminal justice, health care, taxes and regulatory environments.
