CHICAGO, Jan. 16, 2024 – The ABA Task Force for American Democracy, which was formed by American Bar Association President Mary Smith in August 2023 to bolster voter confidence in elections, has announced its roadmap for moving forward through the 2024 election season.
The nonpartisan task force, which is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the nonpartisan administration of elections and providing support for election workers, is co-chaired by Jeh Charles Johnson, former Secretary of Homeland Security, and former federal judge J. Michael Luttig. Moving forward, the task force will:
- Work to mobilize the legal profession to uphold its duty to support and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
- Ensure lawyers are educated regarding their professional obligations.
- Leverage the legal profession to educate the public on the reasons for, and the importance of, democracy and the rule of law.
The Task Force will conduct listening tours in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona. Each session will include local election officials and community leaders discussing issues they face and ways in which public confidence in the election process can be enhanced.
The Task Force plans to accomplish these goals by working with other like-minded organizations to foster a national public conversation and educate Americans about the Constitution, the rule of law and how the U.S. system of government and electoral processes in a constitutional democracy depend on public participation and support to maintain their authority and protect individuals’ rights.
The Task Force will encourage the local legal community, including law schools, law professors, law students and lawyers, as well as former district attorneys and judges, in the relevant localities to educate citizens about how elections work, monitor adherence to appropriate election processes and identify any violations and potential legal challenges.
The task force also will release reports and recommendations on democratic practices and safeguards to strengthen and protect elections, elections workers and officials, and the rule of law.
The American Bar Association is committed to protecting every citizen’s right to vote and instilling confidence in our government and electoral processes.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.