RightCount Hosts Nonpartisan Election Administration Forum at University of Georgia Highlighting State Leadership and Local Transparency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2026

State Election Officials, Frontline Directors, and Legal Experts Gathered at UGA’s Russell Library to Demystify Election Operations and Strengthen Public Trust Ahead of November

ATHENS, GA: RightCount recently hosted a nonpartisan public forum at the University of Georgia’s Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. Hosted by UGA Professor Charles Bullock, Securing the Vote: Inside Georgia’s Election Administration brought together frontline election administrators, state officials, and leading constitutional scholars to provide an inside, objective look at the operational safeguards and legal frameworks governing Georgia’s elections.

The event featured Gabriel Sterling, Director of Special Projects at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, alongside county election directors and RightCount Senior Policy Advisor Ben Ginsberg. Panelists discussed the months of preparation required for every election cycle, the air-gapped security of voting systems, and the crucial role of state-level federalism.

Gabriel Sterling commended RightCount for organizing the event and facilitating a constructive, nonpartisan dialogue in a critical state: “Georgia continues to set the benchmark for sound, transparent, and resilient election administration in competitive elections. RightCount deserves tremendous credit for their leadership in bringing together frontline election directors, legal experts, and citizens for an honest, fact-based conversation about how our elections actually operate. By giving voters a direct look at the security protocols, air-gapped voting systems, and months of preparation that go into every ballot, RightCount is showing the nation how we build public trust, not through political rhetoric, but through transparency, local accountability, and voter engagement.”

Key Takeaways & Panel Insights

• Rigorous Local Preparation & Bipartisan Oversight: Rebecca Anglin, Elections Director for Greene County, emphasized that election prep begins immediately following primary runoffs, noting that “a lot of people just show up and think that elections happen. They do not just happen.” Lynn Bailey, former Elections Director for Richmond County, highlighted that Georgia’s local elections are overseen by bipartisan boards of elections to ensure fairness and accuracy for all voters.

• Air-Gapped Security Systems: Sterling reassured attendees that Georgia’s voting machines and election management systems never come into contact with the internet, eliminating remote hacking risks and reinforcing physical system security.

• Constitutional Federalism & Local Authority: Ben Ginsberg, RightCount Senior Policy Advisor and Volcker Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, framed the legal context, reminding the audience that the U.S. Constitution reserves the authority over election time, place, and manner to the states. Ginsberg noted that under the Constitution, the president has no operational role in conducting elections.

• Rebuilding Voter Trust by “Kicking the Tires”: Addressing political polarization and post-election certification concerns, Ginsberg urged citizens to get directly involved:

  “The single best thing that makes people trust the process is to give them the opportunity to kick the tires of the election system,” said Ben Ginsberg, RightCount Senior Policy Advisor. “Let them ask election officials anything they want, give them tours of the election facility, and go out and vote. When people see how dedicated local workers are, confidence follows.”

About RightCount

RightCount is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to strengthening public confidence in American elections. By elevating constitutional federalism, state-level administration, and local accountability, RightCount works to ensure every election is secure, transparent, and accessible to voters across the nation. For more information, visit RightCount.org.