Associate Professor Zachary Mohr Advocates for Election Administration Funding Reform at US House Committee Hearing

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Associate Professor Zachary Mohr, from the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA), made significant contributions to the discourse on election administration funding by providing expert testimony during a hearing held by the United States Congressional Committee on House Administration.

Professor Mohr, along with colleagues Martha Kropf and Mary Jo McGowan from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, study the costs of election administration in the forthcoming book, “A Republic if You Can Afford It: How Much Does It Cost to Administer an Election?”

In his testimony, Professor Mohr emphasized several key principles to guide discussions on funding for election administration. He highlighted the diverse and decentralized nature of the U.S. election system, with over 8,000 local jurisdictions responsible for conducting elections. Despite this complexity, funding for election administration varies dramatically across jurisdictions, often resulting in underfunding.

While historically, the burden of funding elections has largely fallen on local governments, Professor Mohr argued for a more consistent and meaningful federal funding mechanism. He stressed the importance of regular federal funding to alleviate the financial strain on local jurisdictions and ensure equitable support across regions.

As we navigate the complexities of election administration funding, Professor Mohr's insights serve as a valuable resource for policymakers and stakeholders alike. By prioritizing regular, equitable, and meaningful federal funding, we can strengthen the foundation of our democracy and ensure the integrity of our electoral process.

Stay tuned for further discussions on this topic, as Professor Mohr continues to delve into the intricacies of election funding at upcoming events, including next week’s Election Administration Symposium put on by the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics and Edward M. Kennedy Institute. Professor Mohr (alongside Professor Martha Kropf of the University of North Carolina) will present a case study on elections in North Carolina.

Let us heed his call for bipartisan cooperation and address this historically neglected yet crucial aspect of our electoral system.