New advisory group will champion election security, enhance transparency and boost public confidence
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced last week that his office has formed a bipartisan Election Integrity Task Force bringing together “highly respected leaders, election officials, and policy experts.”
The task force will serve as an ongoing forum for leaders, election officials and policy experts from across the political spectrum to help ensure Georgia’s elections remain fair and secure, identify emerging challenges, and explore practical solutions that strengthen transparency and public confidence.
“Georgia has the most secure elections in America and we intend to keep it that way,” said Secretary Raffensperger. “This bipartisan group brings together leaders with different backgrounds and perspectives who share a commitment to protecting every lawful vote and strengthening public confidence in our elections.”
The Election Integrity Task Force will examine issues including voter list maintenance, election administration best practices, transparency initiatives, election misinformation, and county compliance and performance.
Drawing on decades of experience in public service, election administration, law enforcement, election law and civic leadership, the task force will bring a broad range of perspectives and expertise to the discussion on election integrity. Their combined experience will help evaluate emerging concerns, identify practical solutions and strengthen how elections are administered and understood by the public.
Members of the Election Integrity Task Force include:
- Former U.S. Representative Drew Ferguson, Democracy Defense Foundation
- Former Governor Roy Barnes, Democracy Defense Foundation
- Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Democracy Defense Foundation
- Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, Democracy Defense Foundation
- Election law expert Ben Ginsberg
- Former State Senator Don Balfour, Senior Advisor to the Georgia Democracy Resilience Network
- Joseph Kirk, Bartow County Elections Supervisor and Immediate Past President of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials
- Nancy Boren, Muscogee County Elections and Registration Director
- Terry Norris, Executive Director of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association
“Election security begins well before Election Day,” Raffensperger said. “There are months of preparation, testing, training, coordination, and security work that voters may never see. This Task Force will help ensure that work is coordinated and that Georgians understand the safeguards in place to protect their vote.”
