In the US, all elections are local—even presidential ones. Before states certify results, appointed or elected leaders process ballots at the county or town level. Along with paid staff and temporary poll workers, the local election officials (LEOs) are the bulwark for basic democracy. New research from think tanks and universities shows their jobs are harder than ever.
The four-year turnover rate among LEOs nationally jumped to 39% in 2022, from 28% in 2004. The figure was even higher in several battleground states, as well as more populous jurisdictions. According to Joshua Ferrer, a political science researcher at ...