Election Fraud & Reform: A Historical Perspective Using Government Documents

Abstract

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of representative,
democratic government. They allow citizens to hold their leaders
accountable and express their political will. However, throughout
U.S. history election fraud and interference have surfaced
at various levels of government, undermining public trust and
prompting reforms. This paper examines three election interference
and fraud cases: the 1997 Miami Mayoral Election,
the 2004 Washington Gubernatorial Election, and the 2000
U.S. Presidential Election. Each case represents a different level
of government and illustrates how election-related challenges
manifested and were resolved. This paper focuses on official
government documents produced during and in the aftermath
of each controversy. In doing so, the paper examines the details
of these cases and reflects on how past experiences can inform
current conversations about election security and reform.