A new report from the Honest Elections Project (HEP) outlines key reforms needed to bolster election integrity across the United States. The report, titled "Safeguarding Our Elections," presents over a dozen crucial measures, addressing concerns from voter identification and voter roll maintenance to preventing foreign influence.

HEP Executive Director Jason Snead emphasized the importance of these reforms in light of recent election outcomes. He stated that lawmakers have a responsibility to implement measures that make voting accessible while also deterring fraud. The report serves as a guide for legislators to achieve this balance.

One major concern highlighted in the report is foreign influence in elections. HEP points to polling data showing that a vast majority of Americans oppose foreign funding in elections. The report details how a legal loophole allows foreign nationals to contribute to ballot measure campaigns, potentially influencing election laws and state constitutions. A specific example cited is the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which accepted substantial funds from a foreign billionaire and subsequently spent millions on ballot issue campaigns across multiple states.

The report also cautions against Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), arguing that it complicates voting, understanding election results, and erodes trust in the process. Despite voter rejection of RCV in several states in 2024, the report warns of continued efforts by some groups to promote its adoption.

Another area of concern is the influence of private funding in elections. The report references the controversy surrounding "Zuck Bucks" in 2020 and urges states to prevent similar situations in the future, advocating for publicly accountable elections rather than those influenced by special interest groups or large donors.

The report also calls for increased transparency and robust post-election audits, ensuring that election laws are crafted by elected officials, and protecting the security of mail-in ballots.