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County Election Administration Promotes Voter Confidence in US Elections for Election Losers

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  • Michael J. Ritter

    (School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs, Washington State University‐Pullman, USA)

Abstract

Does high-quality county election administration (CEA)—the center of US elections—add to public confidence in US elections, including among election losers? No study has examined how CEA quality throughout the US and over time affects this outcome. Specifically, this study evaluates the hypotheses that, from 2012 to 2022, higher quality CEA leads to higher public confidence in election results and enhances this confidence among election losers. These hypotheses are evaluated using the new CEA (Ritter & Tolbert, 2024) index. Using the Survey of the Performance of American Elections data (from 2012 to 2022), coupled with multi-level modeling, this study evaluates the impact of CEA on public confidence for election winners and losers. Ultimately, this study finds that higher quality CEA helps close the confidence gap between election losers and winners.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Ritter, 2026. "County Election Administration Promotes Voter Confidence in US Elections for Election Losers," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 14.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v14:y:2026:a:11751
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.11751
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph Coll & Caroline J. Tolbert & Michael Ritter, 2022. "Understanding Preferences for Comprehensive Electoral Reform in the United States," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 103(7), pages 1523-1538, December.
    2. Ashley Jardina & Robert Mickey, 2022. "White Racial Solidarity and Opposition to American Democracy," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 699(1), pages 79-89, January.
    3. Bowler, Shaun & Donovan, Todd, 2007. "Reasoning About Institutional Change: Winners, Losers and Support for Electoral Reforms," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 37(3), pages 455-476, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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