In a bold move that has the potential to reshape the landscape of American elections, there is a proposal for an executive order that could change how election integrity is approached in the United States. This plan suggests that elections should operate under rigorous compliance similar to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which transformed the corporate landscape in the wake of high-profile accounting scandals in the early 2000s. Just as SOX requires corporations to maintain stringent controls over their financial practices, this new framework aims to enforce similar standards for election processes.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was enacted following the collapses of companies like Enron and WorldCom, exposing widespread fraud and the manipulation of financial statements. As a result, a comprehensive system was put in place, requiring transparent processes surrounding financial reporting. Now, proponents argue that it’s time for elections to follow suit. “To fix U.S. elections,” the proposal states, there must be a decisive shift towards improving security and integrity, moving away from systems that lack proper auditing and controls.
Current election systems are viewed as inadequately safeguarded against potential manipulation and fraud. The call for an executive order emphasizes that a comparable approach to SOX could enforce the necessary checks and balances within the election process. As it stands, many critical controls that ensure the integrity of elections simply do not exist or are poorly designed and implemented. The proposal highlights, “In U.S. elections, there is evidence that the systems used in the election process are not secure.” If these conditions continue unchecked, the credibility of electoral outcomes remains at risk.
Through the lens of corporate governance, the importance of strong internal controls is made clear. Corporations are required to perform annual audits, assessing whether key controls are functioning correctly to prevent fraud. Yet when it comes to U.S. elections, only a fraction of essential controls is in place, leading to questions about the authenticity of the electoral process. A study cited in the proposal indicates that roughly one-third of required controls currently operate effectively. This gap calls attention to a dire need for reform—a need that some believe can only be resolved through a formal executive decree.
The proposed executive order would implement an extensive checklist of mandatory requirements, ensuring election systems are rigorously examined and certified by independent auditors prior to elections. Such an approach would not only require ongoing audits but also impose serious consequences for any officials or entities found lacking in compliance. From the documentation of procedures to the certification of controls, every aspect of the election process would come under scrutiny. “This includes unrestricted mail-in or absentee ballots, ballot harvesting, and counting after Election Day,” the proposal asserts.
By establishing a firm framework for accountability and transparency through audits, the integrity of elections could be significantly enhanced. For instance, external auditors would independently verify compliance with regulations, bringing to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. This is critical as the proposal calls for a non-partisan group of auditors protected from political pressures to ensure unbiased evaluations. The intention is to foster a system where citizens can trust the results of the elections, believing that every vote has been accounted for accurately. “ALL key controls must be in place and working properly before the external auditor signs off on a company’s financials,” the proposal underscores, drawing a parallel worth noting between corporate practices and electoral procedures.
Furthermore, with a significant increase in technology used in elections, the opportunity for vulnerabilities to be exploited is higher than ever. As detailed in the proposal, incorporating these new standards would curtail the risks associated with the use of uncertified voting machines and security shortcomings. “Currently, uncertifiable election computers and proprietary software with extensive coding remain untested by independent experts,” it states, revealing a concerning reality in modern electoral processes.
The directive calls for a detailed approach, suggesting that by adhering to SOX-like protocols, the multitude of flaws currently present in election systems could be addressed head-on. It’s an ambitious proposal that seeks to align the procedural rigor found in corporate America with the crucial workings of democracy itself. The hope is that it will transform elections into transparent, secure, and verifiable events, reinforcing public trust.
As the discussions surrounding this proposed executive order unfold, it becomes clear that there is a growing demand for a robust framework within which elections can be conducted. The push for such significant reforms embodies a critical reflection on how American democracy can adapt to ensure not only fair but perceived as fair practices moving forward. With heightened scrutiny and detailed regulatory structures, the potential for securing an unassailable electoral process could soon be within reach.
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