Litigation
Center for Election Confidence (formerly known as Lawyers Democracy Fund) seeks to promote trust in the electoral process. One way CEC supports fair and accurate elections is engaging strategically in litigation: filing amicus curiae briefs and financially supporting legal challenges.
Latest News
[{"id":980,"link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/2025\/11\/11\/cec-urges-scotus-to-review-pilf-v-benson-to-ensure-effective-list-maintenance\/","name":"cec-urges-scotus-to-review-pilf-v-benson-to-ensure-effective-list-maintenance","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"CEC Urges SCOTUS to Review PILF v. Benson to Ensure Effective List Maintenance","author":{"name":"centerforelectionconfidence","link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/author\/centerforelectionconfidence\/"},"date":"Nov 11, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-11-11 22:07:16","modifiedDate":"2025-11-11 17:07:17","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-11 22:07:17","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/amicus-brief\/' rel='post_tag'>amicus brief<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/benson\/' rel='post_tag'>benson<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/list-maintenance\/' rel='post_tag'>list maintenance<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/michigan\/' rel='post_tag'>michigan<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/pilf\/' rel='post_tag'>PILF<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/scotus\/' rel='post_tag'>scotus<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":37},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The Center for Election Confidence (CEC) today filed an amicus brief in PILF v. Benson (No. 25-437), urging the Supreme Court to grant review and to overturn the Sixth Circuit\u2019s blessing of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's efforts to \u201ceviscerate[] the purpose of the National Voter Registration Act\u201d and undermine both election integrity and transparency through her failure to conduct an \"effective\" list maintenance program."},{"id":984,"link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/2025\/11\/10\/scotus-will-hear-election-day-ballot-deadline-case-supported-by-cec\/","name":"scotus-will-hear-election-day-ballot-deadline-case-supported-by-cec","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"SCOTUS Will Hear Election Day Ballot Deadline Case Supported by CEC","author":{"name":"centerforelectionconfidence","link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/author\/centerforelectionconfidence\/"},"date":"Nov 10, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-11-10 17:30:42","modifiedDate":"2025-11-12 13:42:14","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-12 18:42:14","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":34},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it had agreed to review the 5th Circuit's opinion in Watson v. RNC, a case that hinges on Mississippi's acceptance of federal election ballots after Election Day. \n\nThe Center for Election Confidence (CEC), joined by partner organizations Honest Elections Project and Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE), filed the only amicus brief encouraging the Court to hear the case."},{"id":975,"link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/2025\/10\/01\/cec-urges-lancaster-co-pa-to-consider-voter-impact-with-polling-place-changes\/","name":"cec-urges-lancaster-co-pa-to-consider-voter-impact-with-polling-place-changes","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"CEC Urges Lancaster Co., PA, to Consider Voter Impact with Polling Place Changes","author":{"name":"centerforelectionconfidence","link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/author\/centerforelectionconfidence\/"},"date":"Oct 1, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-01 16:26:49","modifiedDate":"2025-10-01 12:26:50","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-01 16:26:50","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/comment\/' rel='post_tag'>comment<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/lancaster-county\/' rel='post_tag'>Lancaster County<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/pennsylvania\/' rel='post_tag'>Pennsylvania<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/polling-place-changes\/' rel='post_tag'>polling place changes<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/voter-confusion\/' rel='post_tag'>voter confusion<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/voter-impact\/' rel='post_tag'>voter impact<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":31},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The Center for Election Confidence (\"CEC\") today submitted regulatory comment to the Lancaster County, Pa., Board of Elections, urging the Board to weigh carefully the impact to voters as it considers moving polling places in Rapho and East Earl Townships."},{"id":939,"link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/2025\/09\/24\/cec-urges-scotus-to-protect-equal-voting-rights-in-redistricting\/","name":"cec-urges-scotus-to-protect-equal-voting-rights-in-redistricting","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"CEC Urges SCOTUS to Protect Equal Voting Rights in Redistricting","author":{"name":"centerforelectionconfidence","link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/author\/centerforelectionconfidence\/"},"date":"Sep 24, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-24 20:04:49","modifiedDate":"2025-09-24 16:14:09","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-24 20:14:09","commentCount":"1","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/amicus-brief\/' rel='post_tag'>amicus brief<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/callais\/' rel='post_tag'>callais<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/louisiana\/' rel='post_tag'>louisiana<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/redistricting\/' rel='post_tag'>redistricting<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/scotus\/' rel='post_tag'>scotus<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/supreme-court\/' rel='post_tag'>Supreme Court<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/voting-rights-act\/' rel='post_tag'>voting rights act<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/vra\/' rel='post_tag'>vra<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":7,"sec":15},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The Center for Election Confidence (\"CEC\") today filed an amicus brief in Louisiana v. Callais (No. 24-109), urging the Supreme Court to protect equal voting rights in redistricting cases brought under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.\n\nA core CEC principle is that \"all eligible citizens [must be able to] vote freely within an election system of reasonable procedures that promote election integrity, prevent vote dilution and disenfranchisement, and instill public confidence in election systems and outcomes\". To further that goal, CEC argues three main points in its brief."},{"id":964,"link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/2025\/09\/23\/cec-in-the-news-montgomery-county-election-officials-are-concerned-about-possible-postmark-changes\/","name":"cec-in-the-news-montgomery-county-election-officials-are-concerned-about-possible-postmark-changes","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"CEC in the News: Montgomery County election officials are concerned about possible postmark changes","author":{"name":"centerforelectionconfidence","link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/author\/centerforelectionconfidence\/"},"date":"Sep 23, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-23 19:27:00","modifiedDate":"2025-09-26 15:28:57","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-26 19:28:57","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/comment\/' rel='post_tag'>comment<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/news\/' rel='post_tag'>news<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/postmark\/' rel='post_tag'>postmark<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/usps\/' rel='post_tag'>USPS<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":59},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The Baltimore Banner featured a regulatory comment submitted by the Center for Election Confidence (CEC) to the United States Postal Service concerning the importance of the USPS fulfilling its centuries-old public duty to postmark the mail it handles, including mail containing ballots."},{"id":957,"link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/2025\/09\/22\/cec-argues-against-lawless-elections-in-arizona\/","name":"cec-argues-against-lawless-elections-in-arizona","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"CEC Argues Against Lawless Elections in Arizona","author":{"name":"centerforelectionconfidence","link":"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/author\/centerforelectionconfidence\/"},"date":"Sep 22, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-22 15:33:05","modifiedDate":"2025-09-23 11:46:50","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-23 15:46:50","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/category\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Press Releases<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/amicus-brief\/' rel='post_tag'>amicus brief<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/arizona\/' rel='post_tag'>arizona<\/a><a href='https:\/\/electionconfidence.org\/tag\/epm\/' rel='post_tag'>epm<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":54},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The Center for Election Confidence (CEC) today filed an amicus brief in RNC v. Fontes, which is currently pending before the Arizona Supreme Court. In Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes challenges the Arizona Court of Appeals determination that his office unlawfully promulgated the 2023 Arizona Election Procedures Manual (EPM), an administrative document that has the force of law and governs all election procedures in the state, in violation of the Arizona Administrative Procedures Act (APA). In the alternative, Secretary Fontes asks the Arizona Supreme Court to apply any remedy on a forward-looking basis only, which would allow his office to implement the unlawful 2023 EPM and the 2025 EPM, which was also promulgated without following the APA."}]
Promoting Confidence in Elections
Clear Rules
The rules governing an election should be clear, established well in advance, and designed to address the many different situations and eventualities that may occur during a voting process.
Easy to Understand
If voters perceive the electoral process as confusing, ripe for manipulation, or susceptible to fraud, they lack the confidence to vote.
Transparency
The rules and processes of an election should be entirely transparent, well-publicized, and widely known and understood. Observation of every step of the process should be allowed and encouraged.