Joint Statement on Trust in Elections as a Cornerstone of American Democracy
November 3, 2024 Released by Issue One & More Perfect
More than 100 former U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, Governors, and White House officials from both parties and top-ranking military veterans have issued a powerful joint statement affirming the critical importance of trust in America’s elections and the peaceful transfer of power:
The U.S. Constitution begins with the powerful words, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union….” The people are at the core of the American experiment in self-government, which relies on its citizens to express their will through free and fair elections. American democracy thrives because every eligible citizen has the right to participate in the electoral process and to have their vote counted fairly and accurately. Public trust is earned through transparent and accountable systems designed to safeguard elections from fraud, manipulation, or undue influence. Across tens of thousands of jurisdictions, hundreds of thousands of election officials, poll workers, and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the integrity of the process, performing audits and administering elections securely and fairly. We honor their service by collaborating with them to uphold the integrity of our electoral system.
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We call on all Americans not only to vote but also to uphold and support the electoral system that undergirds our Constitutional system of representation and preserves our freedom. Election workers must be supported, not threatened. Upholding public confidence in how elections work and in the members of our communities across the country who are working tirelessly to administer safe and secure elections strengthens us as a nation.
We affirm that once elections are administered and certified, with appropriate recounts and reviews conducted as necessary, it is critical for all candidates for public office to accept the results and support the peaceful transfer of power. The peaceful transfer of power is essential for ensuring stability in governance, confidence in social, economic and political institutions, and global diplomatic relations and international standing.
We, the undersigned leaders, affirm our commitment to strengthening public confidence in the electoral process. We will work to protect the integrity of our elections in a strictly nonpartisan manner. We call on all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, to refrain from using threats, misinformation, or tactics that undermine the public’s trust in the electoral process. We urge all Americans to support fair elections and honor their results. Trust in our elections is the cornerstone upon which our principles and values for self-governance are built. Without trust in the electoral process, the legitimacy of government, the will of the people, and the very principles of our Constitution are at risk.
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Joint Statement Signatories
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Former U.S. Senator
Jason Altmire (D-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Brian N. Baird (D-WA)
Former Member of Congress
Melody Barnes
Former Director, White House Domestic Policy Council, Pres. Obama
J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
Former Member of Congress
Tina Barton
Former City Clerk of Rochester Hills, Michigan
Charles F. Bass (R-NH)
Former Member of Congress
Mark Begich (D-AK)
Former U.S. Senator
Douglas Bereuter (R-NE)
Former Member of Congress
Jim Blanchard (D-MI)
Former Governor and Member of Congress
David Bonior (D-MI)
Former Member of Congress
Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Former Member of Congress
Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL)
Chair USADF, former U.S. Ambassador & former U.S Senator
Donna Brazile
Former Democratic National Committee Chair
John Bridgeland
Former Director, White House Domestic Policy Council, Pres. George W. Bush
Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
Former Member of Congress
Mike Capuano (D-MA)
Former Member of Congress
John W. Carlin (D-KS)
Former Governor
Russ Carnahan (D-MO)
Former Member of Congress
John Cavanaugh (D-NE)
Former Member of Congress
Ben Chandler (D-KY)
Former Member of Congress
Rod Chandler (R-WA)
Former Member of Congress
William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
Former Member of Congress
Dan Coats (R-IN)
Former Director of National Intelligence and former U.S. Senator
Tom Coleman (R-MO)
Former Member of Congress
Barbara Comstock (R-VA)
Former Member of Congress
Sam Coppersmith (D-AZ)
Former Member of Congress
Carlos Curbelo (R-FL)
Former Member of Congress
Tom Daschle (D-SD)
Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Susan Davis (D-CA)
Former Member of Congress
Lincoln Davis (D-TN)
Former Member of Congress
Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Charles K. Djou (R-HI)
Secretary of American Battle Monuments Commission and former Member of Congress
Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Former U.S. Senator
Donna F. Edwards (D-MD)
Former Member of Congress
David F. Emery (R-ME)
Former Member of Congress
Karan English (D-AZ)
Former Member of Congress
Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Former U.S. Senator
Bill Frist (R-TN)
Former U.S. Senator Majority Leader
Dick Gephardt (D-MO)
Former House Majority Leader
James Gerlach (R-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)
Former Member of Congress
Trey Grayson (R-KY)
Former KY Secretary of State
Jim Greenwood (R-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Steve Gunderson (R-WI)
Former Member of Congress
Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former U.S. Senator
Jane Harman (D-CA)
Former Member of Congress
Gary Hart (D-CO)
Former U.S. Senator
Dennis Hertel (D-MI)
Former Member of Congress
Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
Former Governor of Arkansas & Member of Congress
Robert D. Inglis (R-SC)
Former Member of Congress
John B. Johnston (D-LA)
Former U.S. Senator
Neal Kelley
Former Registrar of Voters, Orange County, California
Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID)
Former U.S. Senator, Governor & Secretary of the Interior
Peter H. Kostmayer (D-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Ray LaHood (R-IL)
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation & Member of Congress
Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA)
Former U.S. Senator
Rick Lazio (R-NY)
Former Member of Congress
John LeBoutillier (R-NY)
Former Member of Congress
Mel Levine (D-CA)
Former Member of Congress
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Former U.S. Senator
Marjorie Margolies (D-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal
Retired United States Army
Matt McHugh (D-NY)
Former Member of Congress
Adm. William H. McRaven
Retired United States Navy
Amber McReynolds
Vice Chair, Board of Governors of U.S. Postal Service & former Director of Elections for the City & County of Denver, Colorado
Brad Miller (D-NC)
Former Member of Congress
Susan Molinari (R-NY)
Former Member of Congress
Jim Moran (D-VA)
Former Member of Congress
Connie Morella (R-MD)
Former U.S. Ambassador & former Member of Congress
Marc Morial
Former, Mayor, New Orleans & CEO, National Urban League
Patrick Murphy (D-PA)
Former Member of Congress
Cecilia Muñoz
Former Director, White House Domestic Policy Council, Pres. Obama
Glenn Nye (D-VA)
Former Member of Congress
Adm. William Owens
Ret. United States Navy & former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Leon E. Panetta (D-CA)
Former Secretary of Defense, Director, CIA, White House Chief of Staff, & former Member of Congress
Tom Petri (R-WI)
Former Member of Congress
Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)
Former Member of Congress
Robert J. Portman (R-OH)
Former U.S. Senator
Deborah Pryce (R-OH)
Former Member of Congress
Marc Racicot (R-MT)
Former Governor of Montana
Reid Ribble (R-WI)
Former Member of Congress
Denver Riggleman (R-VA)
Former Member of Congress
Bill Ritter Jr. (D-CO)
Former Governor of Colorado
Tim Roemer (D-IN)
Former U.S. Ambassador & former Member of Congress
Adm. Mike Rogers
Director, National Security Agency
Roy R. Romer (D-CO)
Former Governor of Colorado
Claudine Schneider (R-RI)
Former Member of Congress
Philip R. Sharp (D-IN)
Former Member of Congress
Christopher Shays (R-CT)
Former Member of Congress
Karen F. Shepherd (D-UT)
Former Member of Congress
David Skaggs (D-CO)
Former Member of Congress
Peter P. Smith (R-VT)
Former Member of Congress
Michael Steele (R-MD)
Former Lt. Governor, Maryland & former Republican National Committee Chair