Resources
Election Management
Ballot Drop Box Implementation
Ballot drop boxes offer a secure, convenient alternative for voters to cast their completed mail ballots. They save voters money in jurisdictions where return postage is not prepaid, and they can reduce costs for election authorities that pay postage.
Jun 3, 2026
Election Management
Ballot Proofing: Ensuring Accuracy in Elections
Election administration requires precision and accuracy. It all begins with creating accurate ballots. Ballot proofing, the process of ensuring accurate ballots, deserves a high degree of attention.
May 29, 2026
Polling Places and Poll Workers
Protect Your Vote: A Citizen’s Guide
This valuable guide fits in your pocket or on your phone. It provides concrete steps and resources to support election officials and protect the vote.
May 29, 2026
Polling Places and Poll Workers
Accessibility Quick-Reference Guide
Inspired by the Iowa Secretary of State’s 2020 “Clearie” Award-winning checklist and guide for improving accessibility for voters with disabilities, we’ve created a printer-friendly guide with checklist that election offices […]
Mar 20, 2026
Election Audits
Exploring Election Audits Series
The Elections Group’s Exploring Election Audits Series will help election officials identify principles, standards and audit best practices that apply to the entire election administration process – not just voting machines and tabulation equipment.
Mar 10, 2026
Communications
Drop Box and Vote Early Messaging
Use consistent, clear, simple messaging and graphics to encourage voting early and using a drop box the last week before Election Day. Just download, add your office’s seal or logo, include any needed dates, and then print or post.
Mar 4, 2026
Communications
Crisis Communications Intake Response Forms
Crisis communications readiness helps election offices respond promptly, accurately and confidently during an emergency or significant event. Use these intake response forms to supplement your plans and help manage your office’s response to critical incidents by preparing contact lists, talking points, holding statements and more.
Sep 26, 2025
Accelerating Excellence
Creating an Election Academy: Manual and Materials
This manual and materials are designed to help you start, run and repeat an election academy—an election education course—in your jurisdiction. An election academy is a hands-on course designed to provide participants with information on how election officials prepare for and conduct elections in their jurisdiction.
Sep 26, 2025
Election Management
60-Minute Toolkit for Emergency Readiness
The provided resources, the “Emergency Readiness Toolkit” and the “Emergency Readiness Guide,” offer a comprehensive framework for election officials to prepare for and respond to various crises. The Toolkit includes […]
Sep 25, 2025
Election Management
Election Learning Lab
Free, self-paced online courses to help election professionals enhance their skills in support of efficient, safe and transparent elections
Sep 22, 2025
Election Audits
Systems Check: A Guide to Testing Election Technology
What does systems testing accomplish? It verifies the equipment and technology used in the election are working properly and as expected. It helps safeguard against attacks. And it adds transparency to increase public confidence in voting systems and elections.
Jul 28, 2025
Communications
Using Radio Tip Sheet
Communicating effectively with the public is a crucial part of any election administrator’s job. One of the most cost effective options is radio, which is readily available and reaches an overwhelming majority of Americans.
May 27, 2025
Accelerating Excellence
Mapping and Modeling Best Practices in Election Certification and Training Programs
We examined election workforce training program design and governance as well as course content and instructional design and rated specific practices according to how critical they are to a successful training program.
Apr 24, 2025
Operations
DIY Guide – Building an Election Training and Certification Program
Here it is: The Elections Group’s guide to building an election training and certification program. This guide is for state and local election officials who want to establish a statewide […]
Mar 14, 2025
Election Audits
Audit Explainer Videos
The Elections Group is committed to increasing awareness of post-election tabulation audits. As part of this work, our team created three short, animated videos to explain the what, why and how of post-election audits.
Mar 4, 2025
Operations
Recipe for Success: How to Write and Maintain Effective Standard Operating Procedures
Election administration is complex. Nearly every election operation depends on several staff members completing multiple tasks. Regardless of the staff size, there are many processes that must be completed in […]
Feb 28, 2025
Accelerating Excellence
Training for Election Officials: A 50-State Analysis
Election officials learn to carry out their duties by participating in training at the national, state, and local levels. State-level training is a particularly valuable source for best practices and […]
Jan 16, 2025
Election Management
Election Debrief Handbook
The Election Debrief Handbook is designed to help election officials lead their teams through debriefs of the most recent election. Soon after the election — when election workers and officials […]
Nov 21, 2024
Communications
Ballot Cure Reminder Graphics
Graphics can help point public attention to the ballot curing process and the need for voters to take steps to ensure their vote is counted. Use these images in social […]
Nov 5, 2024
Communications
Results Release Schedule Graphic
Clear communication about when election results will be released and updated is essential for our community to be involved and informed. This graphic can help set expectations when to look […]
Nov 4, 2024
Election Management
Guidance for Religious Leaders at the Polls
Religious leaders across the country are lifting their voices to call for a free, fair, and peaceful election season. Many of them are preparing to serve as “poll chaplains” or […]
Nov 1, 2024
Operations
Provisional Ballots Checklist
Is your office prepared for a potential surge in provisional ballot voters? As part of your resiliency planning, use this checklist to ensure your office is prepared. Provisional ballots are […]
Oct 31, 2024
Security
Keeping Elections Safe in Your Community: A Law Enforcement Quick Reference Guide
This information and guidance was compiled by Justin Smith, a law enforcement advisor for The Elections Group and a member of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections. Smith is […]
Oct 29, 2024
Communications
Ballot Counts and Election Results Communications Tool Kit
Brief communications from election officials can help maintain trust when election results are delayed — or perceived to be delayed. This tool kit will help keep you communicate with voters, candidates and the media about ballot counts and election results. The templates are easy to download and adjust to fit your jurisdiction’s requirements, rules and deadlines.
Oct 29, 2024
Communications
Return Your Ballot Early Graphic Template
This graphic is designed to encourage voters to return their ballots early, ensuring that every voice is heard in the upcoming election. By promoting early ballot return, you can alleviate […]
Oct 28, 2024
Polling Places and Poll Workers
Drop Box Resilience
Is your office prepared for an incident that compromises a ballot drop box? Drop boxes are used in many states and jurisdictions as a way for voters to return their […]
Oct 28, 2024
Communications
Election Security Graphics
These social-sized graphics can send a strong statement about your commitment to security. Reach out to our Communications Resource Desk for help customizing this for your jurisdiction: Resource Request Form
Oct 21, 2024
Communications
2024 General Election Sample Social Media Schedule
Having a social media calendar with ready-to-go posts for important dates and messaging can help election offices keep the public engaged and allow staff to focus on other topics for […]
Oct 17, 2024
Communications
I Voted Flag Graphic
Graphics can be an important element in telling your story. Use this image for infographics or social media posts. Reach out to our Communications Resource Desk for help customizing this for your jurisdiction.
Oct 15, 2024
Election Audits
Audit Hand-Count Tally Sheet and Guides
If your teams need tally sheets for the hand-count portion of your post-election audit or quick guidance on a counting method, we have you covered.
Oct 10, 2024