Election Assistance Commission Audit Standards Highlight ALI’s Ethical Standards for Election Administration
New voluntary national standards for election audits released by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) prominently reference the Ethical Standards for Election Administration developed by a bipartisan working group convened by The American Law Institute.
The EAC’s Voluntary National Standards for Election Audits – A Practical Guide identifies ethical conduct as a core component of credible election audits and highlights the ALI standards as a reference point for election officials and auditors. The guide includes a call-out box listing the seven ethical principles developed by the ALI working group and recommends them as practical guidance for election administrators seeking to ensure professionalism and integrity in the audit process.
The standards were developed through collaboration between the EAC and members of its advisory boards and are intended to provide a voluntary framework to support election officials across the country as they design and conduct audits. The document emphasizes that election audits are essential tools for verifying compliance with election laws, strengthening checks and balances, and reinforcing public trust in election administration.
“Election administration depends fundamentally on public confidence,” said ALI Director Diane P. Wood. “We are honored that the Election Assistance Commission chose to highlight the Ethical Standards for Election Administration as a practical guide for election officials. These principles were developed through a bipartisan effort to articulate the professional values that support fair, transparent, and trustworthy elections.”
The Ethical Standards for Election Administration were developed in 2023 by a bipartisan working group of election experts, scholars, and former election officials convened by ALI. The group sought to articulate widely shared professional norms for those responsible for administering elections. The standards emphasize that election officials should:
- Adhere to the law
- Protect the integrity of the election process
- Promote transparency
- Treat participants in the electoral process impartially
- Demonstrate personal integrity
- Practice the highest level of ethics and stewardship
- Advance professional excellence
Within the EAC’s audit standards, ethical conduct is described as a foundational element of objective and trustworthy election audits. The guide notes that documented ethical principles can help ensure that audits are conducted impartially and professionally and can also help explain to the public why particular practices are followed in the administration of elections.
The EAC standards emphasize that while election procedures differ significantly among states and jurisdictions, shared professional principles can provide a common framework for strengthening election administration nationwide.
ALI’s working group included election administrators from across the political spectrum, as well as scholars and practitioners with experience in election law and public administration. The goal was to produce a concise set of professional standards that could be useful to election officials regardless of the particular statutory framework in which they operate.
The recognition of these principles in the EAC’s national audit standards reflects the continued relevance of the working group’s effort and underscores the importance of professional ethics in maintaining confidence in democratic institutions.