Local Election Official Turnover Continues to Surge
The trend of local election officials leaving their posts has intensified since 2020, with a recent study revealing that half of the chief local election officials in the Western U.S. have departed from their roles during this period.
Both employed staff and elected officials have increasingly resigned, with a study by the nonprofit Issue One indicating that turnover is still on the rise, even as the nation emerges from the pandemic cycle. This uptick in election worker turnover has built on a long-term trend, showing increases since at least the year 2000.
According to this study, around 50% of local election officials across 11 Western states have stepped down since November 2020, often citing personal reasons mid-term.
The analysis covered states such as Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington. It identified a 10% increase in retirements of local elected leaders in these areas compared to data from a prior study conducted in 2023.
Minnesota Fraud Case Highlights Election Integrity Concerns
The Issue One study reported that since November 2020, half of the counties in the Western U.S. have seen local election officials leave, noting that 211 counties have recorded at least one resignation, and 32 counties have documented two or more departures.
For instance, in one Arizona county, there have been five different election administrators since the 2020 presidential election. Overall, more than 250 officials have exited their critical roles in local election administration across Western states since November 2020.
The findings suggest that a significant portion of the turnover—about 76%—is due to voluntary departures rather than issues like campaign failures, term limits, layoffs, or natural causes. Factors such as intimidation, harassment, heightened stress, and increased surveillance are believed to have contributed to the decision of many officials to resign.
Political Violence and Election Challenges
Claims of voter fraud marked the 2020 election cycle, with President Trump asserting that he emerged victorious over former President Biden. This environment has been mired in a mix of election disputes and legal battles that spilled into the Trump administration’s term.
In a related study, there was a reported 200% rise in violent rhetoric directed at public officials between 2021-2022 compared to earlier data from 2020. It highlighted that while both political parties are affected, Trump has faced the most significant threats among Republican leaders.
Concerns Across Both Political Aisles
The ongoing resignation trend among local election officials has prompted bipartisan concern, with both Republicans and Democrats pointing to burnout, intimidation, and constant scrutiny as factors depleting the ranks of those responsible for overseeing elections.
The situation of election commissioners stepping down appears to be a growing issue. Recent data suggests that the 2024 election cycle could see the highest turnover rate among election workers in the last quarter-century, according to previous findings by the Bipartisan Policy Center.
