I served for more than seven years as a commissioner of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the only federal agency dedicated exclusively to monitoring how elections in our country are run. My tenure included terms as the commission's chair during the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.
During that time, I crisscrossed the country, speaking with thousands of election officials and learning how best to support their meticulous work.
Facts and truth matter. When Americans vote, the will of the people must be respected.
While each state runs its elections a little differently, I have found certain basic truths to be consistent across the country: Election officials are reliable professionals who follow state and federal law with transparency
and accountability built into every step of the process.
That might sound different than what you’ve heard or seen on social media. Exaggerated claims of noncitizen voters and outright lies about compromised voting equipment are being repeated far too often.
Election conspiracies aren't based in facts
The Trump administration has been attempting to sow chaos and confusion to boost the false narrative that election results can’t be trusted if you don’t like the outcome. This is not, however, what the facts show to be the reality of our election system.
You don’t have to take my word for it. You can check for yourself. Election administration is incredibly transparent. You can tour your local election office to learn about the rigorous safeguards in place to ensure the integrity of the process.
You can attend preelection equipment testing or postelection audits to see exactly how officials ensure every valid vote is reflected in the final certified results. Better yet, you can get involved firsthand by serving as a poll worker.
Your service will undoubtedly deepen your understanding of the immense work behind our elections and bolster your confidence in the system. If you’re interested, let your local election office know.
Despite the clear facts and evidence, President Donald Trump and others continue to perpetuate false claims. Making voting seem untrustworthy or confusing can discourage Americans, causing some to simply stay home.
Worst of all, as we’ve already seen, it could lay the groundwork for bad-faith challenges to legitimate election results.
Don't let anyone discourage you from voting
This is the antithesis of what makes our democracy strong. Election administration is not about politics; it is about good governance and public service.
Our democracy thrives when the whole country participates, and when we respect the will of the voters, regardless of whether our personally preferred candidates win or lose.
With so many disruptive narratives circulating about voter lists, postal changes and more, it’s natural to feel some apprehension about casting a ballot or some worry about whether that ballot will count. Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to ensure you’re ready to enter every election with confidence.
First, make sure you’re registered to vote and that your information is up to date. Tens of millions of Americans move every year, which impacts voter registration.
Ensuring your address is current in registration files guarantees a smoother voting experience for you, shortens lines for your neighbors and helps poll workers do their jobs more efficiently.
Next, get familiar with your options for voting early in person, voting by mail or voting on Election Day. Then, knowing your options, make a plan to vote that works well and feels comfortable for you.
These steps are simple by design. They represent practical actions every American voter can take to support our democracy.
The act of casting a ballot matters. Acknowledging that we choose our representatives at the ballot matters.
If you don’t like how you’re being represented, make your voice heard and vote. Showing up and participating, no matter which candidates you support, is how you can cast a vote for our democracy.
Ben Hovland is a senior fellow for democracy policy at the Center for American Progress. Previously, he served as commissioner of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from February, 2019, through July, 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I monitored voting in 2020, 2024. Our elections aren't being stolen.
