Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has been selected to serve on President Donald Trump’s Commission on Election Integrity, part of the administration’s effort to rein in voter fraud.
Blackwell, a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, is internationally recognized for his work on election integrity and serves as Chairman of the Board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, a bipartisan organization that receives funding from USAID, the United Nations, and several other countries. He has also served as co-chair of the U.S. Census Monitoring Board from 1999-2001.
In 2009, he co-authored an article published in the Yale Law and Policy Review titled “Protecting Every Citizen’s Vote by Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot Box.”
Also joining Blackwell on the president’s Commission on Election Integrity will be:
- Connie Lawson, Secretary of State of Indiana
- Bill Gardner, Secretary of State of New Hampshire
- Matthew Dunlap, Secretary of State of Maine
- Christy McCormick, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission
The commission is chaired by Vice President Mike Pence. Assisting him as vice-chairman of the commission is Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. It is tasked with studying vulnerabilities in voting systems used for federal elections that could lead to improper voter registrations, improper voting, fraudulent voter registrations, and fraudulent voting.
The commission will also study concerns about voter suppression, as well as other voting irregularities. It will utilize all available data, including state and federal databases.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins issued the following statement after the announcement:
“For many years, I have known and worked with Ken Blackwell on some of the toughest issues facing our nation. From the lowest levels of city government to the international level of monitoring elections overseas, I can’t think of anyone better prepared to help ensure that our democratic system is a fair and honest one.
“I am fully confident that our electoral process will be well-served by this dedicated public servant.
“While the voting booth opens the door to many opportunities, corruption and manipulation should not be one of them. That’s why I am encouraged to see the president moving to fulfill his campaign promise to strengthen the integrity of our elections.
“Every American, whether Republican or Democrat, have a stake in election integrity—something that never should be taken for granted.”
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