The Center for Election Confidence (CEC), formerly known as the Lawyers Democracy Fund, is a conservative-leaning legal group that advocates in favor of fair and honest elections while seeking to protect the right of eligible voters to vote. ^{1 2}

The CEC has proposed model voter identification legislation for states to adopt. ^{3 4}

Originally founded as the Lawyers Democracy Fund, as of January 2024 the organization was renamed as the Center for Election Confidence (CEC). ⁵

Background

The Center for Election Confidence (CEC) is a conservative-leaning group that says it backs ethics and legal professionalism in the electoral process to ensure fair and honest elections. ^{6 7}

The CEC argues it seeks the protection eligible voters’ right to vote. In addition, the organization conducts, funds and publishes research on the effectiveness of current and proposed election methods. ⁸

The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation gave $625,000 to the group from 2018 through 2020. ⁹

The leftwing American Prospect magazine criticized the then-Lawyers Democracy Fund for having the same initials as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. ¹⁰

Initially named the Legal Democracy Fund when it was founded, the organization was renamed and as of January 2024 goes by the Center for Election Confidence (CEC). ¹¹

Voter ID Advocacy

The Center for Election Confidence (CEC) has previously sued and submitted amicus briefs in election-related lawsuits, and as defending state voter ID laws, including in 2008, when it was still the Legal Democracy Fund, during the U.S Supreme Court case of Crawford v. Marion County. ¹²

CEC proposed model state legislation on voter ID. The model legislation requires a signature from the voter at the polling place as an additional identity safeguard; requires the voter to provide photo identification and to state his or her name and address verbally; allows voters without ID to vote a provisional ballot; provides free voter ID cards; and offers an affidavit exception in cases of reasonable impediment to providing the required documents to obtain a free voter identification card. ¹³

Leadership

Elliot S. Berke is the president of the Center for Election Confidence (CEC), previously serving as treasurer of the group when it was named Lawyers Democracy Fund. Berke serves as a Managing Partner for law firm Berke Farah LLP and sits on the Board of Advisors of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. As of January 2024, Berke serves as Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia, while previously working as Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon from 2014 through 2016. Prior to this, he worked as Counsel to the offices of Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives and the House Majority Leader, Special Counsel with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Senior Associate Independent Counsel, and Counsel to House and Senate Oversight Committees. ^{14 15}

Ashlee N. Titus is the Vice President and Secretary of the CEC, previously serving as secretary for the organization when it was named the Lawyers Democracy Fund. Since 2004, Titus has worked with law firm Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP. In addition, she holds positions with the California Political Attorneys Association, the Federalist Society, and the Republican National Lawyers Association. She previously worked for the California State Legislature and is a supporter of the Center for Civic Education. ^{16 17}

Lisa L. Dixon is the Executive Director of the CEC. She also serves as Legal Consul for the Republican National Lawyers Association while previously working at the law firm Holtzman Vogel. While studying at the University of Virginia School of Law, she interned at the Office of Chief Counsel, Procedure and Administration, at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as well as at the Center for Law and Religious Freedom. Prior to this, she served as Assistant Student Division Director at The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies and interned at The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Legal and Judicial Studies. ¹⁸

T. Mike Andrews is the Treasurer for the CEC, previously serving as a board member for the organization when it was known as the Lawyers Democracy Fund. Andrews serves as senior vice president in the Federal Public Affairs group with McGuireWoods Consulting firm as well as a partner with McGuireWoods LLP law group. He previously worked on Capitol Hill as the staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs under Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Prior to this, he served as a state, federal and tribal prosecutor in Arizona. In addition, he worked as a senior executive with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He also worked as lead counsel for the D.C. Crime Victims Resource Center and was the former chairman of the Victim Advisory Group for the U.S. Sentencing Commission. ^{19 20}

1. “About.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/about-us/our-mission/
2. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
3. “Model Voter ID Legislation.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/voter-id/model-voter-id-legislation/
4. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
5. “Home.” Lawyers Democracy Fund, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/
6. “Lawyers Democracy Fund.” Cause IQ. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/lawyers-democracy-fund,208721718/
7. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
8. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
9.  Armiak, David. “Revealed: The Biggest Voter Suppressor You’ve Never Heard Of.” Exposed by Center for Media and Democracy. March 28, 2022. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/03/28/revealed-the-biggest-voter-suppressor-youve-never-heard-of/
10. Gibson, Brittany. “The Conservative Voter Fraud Swarm.” The American Prospect. September 18, 2020. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://prospect.org/civil-rights/the-conservative-voter-fraud-swarm/
11. “Home.” Lawyers Democracy Fund, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/
12. “About.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/about-us/our-mission/
13. “Model Voter ID Legislation.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/voter-id/model-voter-id-legislation/
14. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
15. “Leadership.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/about-us/leadership/
16. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
17. “Leadership.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/about-us/leadership/
18. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
19. “About Us.” Center for Election Confidence, Accessed January 22, 2024. https://electionconfidence.org/about/
20. “Leadership.” Lawyers Democracy Fund. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://lawyersdemocracyfund.org/about-us/leadership/