CEIMN Releases New "Recount Principles and Best Practices"

[Image courtesy of CEIMN]

One of the lesser-known but important groups in the election policy world is the Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota (CEIMN), a group that is committed to verifiable elections through auditing and other procedures. CEIMN already has a wealth of resources on its web site including searchable databases of state recount and audit laws.

CEIMN’s latest contribution to the field is a compendium of Recount Principles and Best Practices. According to the press release, the document:

addresses a wide range of recount topics, including initiating mechanisms, funding, transparency, impartiality, counting methods, targeted recounts, and rules for determining voter intent.

CEIMN convened four nationally recognized, bipartisan authors and a blue-ribbon panel of advisors to distill their extensive recount experience into key principles and best practices. The authors of Recount Principles and Best Practices are:

• +Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Secretary of State, who chaired the five-person State Canvassing Board that oversaw the 2008 U.S. Senate recount
• + Sam Reed, former Washington Secretary of State, who oversaw the 2004 Washington gubernatorial recount
• + Jane Platten, former director of Cuyahoga County Ohio Board of Elections
• + Mark Halvorson, founder of Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota and creator of the CEIMN searchable database of state recount laws.

The report was reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel of advisors, including election officials, election integrity advocates, journalists, and academics.

“Accurate and verifiable elections are essential for our democracy,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Ritchie. “This document and its recommendations will improve the way state and local election officials conduct recounts.”

The document is, to its credit, very spare and to the point yet thoroughly referenced, including a helpful appendix of resources. It’s a must-have for anyone who thinks a recount could be in their future – which in today’s political environment means everyone!

Congratulations to Mark Halvorson and the dedicated members of CEIMN – this is a fantastic resource for the field.