“Election transparency is the foundation of voter confidence. Americans deserve absolute certainty that only eligible citizens vote and that every lawful vote is counted accurately.”
— Ken Cuccinelli, Chairman, Election Transparency Initiative
About the Election Transparency Initiative
The Election Transparency Initiative is a national advocacy organization dedicated to advancing transparent, secure, and accountable elections that preserve voter confidence and uphold constitutional principles.
Why Election Transparency?
Election transparency is essential to preserving Americans’ confidence that elections are conducted lawfully, fairly, and in accordance with the Constitution. The Election Transparency Initiative is engaged in the battle for election transparency and security. We are on the front line, safeguarding our ability to elect principled lawmakers and pass laws that uphold our American values.
Election Transparency Initiative was founded in 2021 in response to an unprecedented federal effort to nationalize election administration through H.R. 1 and H.R. 4. These sweeping proposals would have overridden state election laws, weakened long-standing safeguards, and transferred significant authority over elections from the states to Washington.
In coordination with a broad national coalition, the Election Transparency Initiative helped lead the effort to educate policymakers, engage the public, and oppose those measures. Our efforts were successful. The legislation was ultimately blocked, preserving the constitutional framework that entrusts states with primary responsibility for administering elections.
But H.R. 1 and H.R. 4 were only the beginning.
The widespread uncertainty following the 2020 election underscored the importance of transparent election systems and consistent safeguards. Voter confidence depends not only on lawful outcomes, but on transparent processes that allow the public to understand how elections are conducted, how eligibility is verified, and how ballots are handled and counted. Strengthening transparency is essential to restoring and maintaining trust in election outcomes.
The debate exposed deeper structural vulnerabilities in election administration, voter eligibility verification, and the consistency of election safeguards. Confidence in elections is the foundation of self-government. Many Americans were surprised to learn that basic protections they assumed were already standard—such as routine voter list maintenance and reliable eligibility verification—vary widely across jurisdictions.
Ensuring election transparency is not about restricting lawful voting. It is about preserving public confidence by reinforcing clear, constitutional standards and strengthening systems. Americans must be able to trust that only eligible citizens vote, that every lawful vote is counted accurately, and that election laws are enforced consistently and transparently.
The Election Transparency Initiative works to ensure policymakers, the media, and the public understand both the risks and the reforms necessary to maintain election integrity. By supporting policies that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat, the Election Transparency Initiative helps safeguard the legitimacy of election outcomes and preserve Americans’ trust and belief that their vote matters.
Today, the Election Transparency Initiative continues to engage on federal and state election policy, support reforms that strengthen voter eligibility verification and voter roll accuracy, and provide national leadership in public education and advocacy. The organization remains committed to ensuring American elections are administered transparently, lawfully, and in accordance with constitutional principles.
What We Do
The Election Transparency Initiative has evolved from a rapid-response advocacy effort into a permanent national leader advancing transparent, secure, and accountable elections.
Our work focuses on four core areas:
Federal policy engagement
The Election Transparency Initiative supports federal legislation and oversight that reinforces constitutional election safeguards, including citizenship verification, voter list accuracy, and clear national standards that protect election integrity while preserving state authority over election administration.
State-level reform support
The Election Transparency Initiative works with policymakers and coalition partners across multiple states to advance practical, lawful reforms that strengthen election administration, improve transparency, and increase voter confidence.
Strategic communications and public education
The Election Transparency Initiative leads a national earned-media and public education effort, providing analysis, commentary, and rapid-response engagement to inform policymakers, journalists, and the public on election policy developments.
Coalition coordination and strategic advocacy
The Election Transparency Initiative serves as a key coordinating partner among national and state-based organizations, legal experts, and policy leaders, helping align strategy, share expertise, and advance durable reforms that strengthen election transparency nationwide.
What We Support
Policy Priorities That Strengthen Election Transparency and Integrity
The Election Transparency Initiative supports common-sense policies that reinforce public confidence in election administration while ensuring every lawful vote is counted accurately and fairly.
State and federal policymakers should:
• Maintain accurate voter registration lists through routine, lawful voter list maintenance
• Verify voter eligibility and citizenship consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements
• Require voter identification to ensure ballots are cast by eligible voters
• Ensure absentee and mail ballots are secure, traceable, and verifiable
• Prevent third-party ballot trafficking practices that undermine chain-of-custody protections
• Guarantee meaningful access for election observers to promote transparency and accountability
• Ensure ballots are counted according to lawful timelines established by statute
What We Oppose
Policies That Weaken Election Transparency or Undermine Public Confidence
Election Transparency Initiative opposes policies that reduce transparency, weaken safeguards, or erode public trust in election administration.
Policymakers should reject:
• Same-day voter registration without adequate eligibility verification safeguards
• Automatic voter registration systems that risk adding ineligible individuals to voter rolls
• Private funding of government election offices, which creates conflicts of interest and undermines public confidence
• Policies that weaken or eliminate voter identification requirements
• Election administration practices that reduce transparency or limit observer access
Our History
2021 — Founded to Defend State Authority Over Elections
The Election Transparency Initiative was established in response to H.R. 1 and H.R. 4, sweeping federal proposals that would have nationalized key aspects of election administration and overridden state election laws. The Election Transparency Initiative mobilized quickly, working alongside coalition partners to educate policymakers, engage the public, and oppose these measures.
2021–2022 — Successful National Advocacy Effort
Through sustained advocacy, strategic communications, and coalition coordination, the Election Transparency Initiative helped elevate awareness of the constitutional and practical concerns posed by these proposals. Ultimately, the legislation was blocked, preserving the constitutional framework that entrusts states with primary responsibility for administering elections.
2023–Present — Expanded Federal and State Engagement
Following this initial success, the Election Transparency Initiative expanded its mission to support broader election transparency efforts at both the federal and state levels. The organization engages policymakers, provides public education, and supports reforms designed to strengthen voter eligibility verification, voter list accuracy, and transparent election administration.
Today — National Leader in Election Transparency Advocacy
The Election Transparency Initiative now serves as a national leader on election transparency issues, working with policymakers, coalition partners, and media nationwide to advance durable reforms and preserve voter confidence in American elections.