Secure Elections Project is an election administration and lobbying group that supports left-of-center policies that it claims will restore confidence in the vote and expand access to the polls. 1 Founded in 2019, the group supports automated voter registration, online voter registration, 2 and the elimination of paper-based voter registration. 3
Former Kentucky Secretary of State and chair of the Republican Association of Secretaries of State Trey Grayson (R) and former U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) co-chair the Secure Elections Project. 4 5 6
In 2020, Secure Elections Project received a $2,058,000 grant from the left-of-center New Venture Fund (NVF) 7 and a $1,040,000 grant from the left-of-center Sixteen Thirty Fund, both of which are administered by Arabella Advisors, a philanthropy consulting firm for left-leaning clients. 8 In 2019, Secure Elections Project received a $750,000 grant from the Sixteen Thirty Fund. 9
History and Leadership
Secure Elections Project was founded in 2019 with the goal of protecting elections by promoting what it calls “commonsense and nonpartisan election security reforms.” These include automatic and online voter registration, the elimination of paper-based voter registration, 10 preventing hacking and fraud, and expanding access to the polls. 11 12
Former Kentucky Secretary of State and chair of the Republican Association of Secretaries of State Trey Grayson (R) and former U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) cochair the Secure Elections Project. 13 14 15 Grayson is also a board member of the left-of-center Center for Election Innovation and Research. 16
Grayson said that Americans not expecting to know the results of the 2020 presidential election on the night of November 3rd was an “encouraging sign,” 17 said Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) is not an ally to increase voting, 18 and that Republicans should “celebrate” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) for running an election that was “free of widespread malfeasance” in 2020. 19
Kayje Booker is the president of Secure Election Project. 20 21 She is also the engagement director of the left-of-center Montana Wilderness Association. Previously, she was the CEO and program manager of the left-progressive Forward Montana. 22 Other Secure Elections Project staff includes former political staff for the Montana AFL-CIO labor union. 23
Activities and Funding
Secure Elections Project is a left-of-center election administration group that supports what it calls “commonsense and nonpartisan election security reforms” to restore confidence in the vote and expand access to the polls. 24
The project supports automated voter registration and online voter registration 25 and challenges what it calls “fake or fraudulent security ideas being passed off by politicians who are trying to manipulate our elections.” 26
Secure Elections Project advocated that Iowa should adopt use of automated address update technology for voter registration records; 27 suggested Ohio implement computerization of voter registration and implementation of either online or automatic voter registration; 28 and proposed that all states should strive to implement Oregon’s “model of automatic voter registration.” 29
In March 2021, the group published several policy proposals to “restore faith and trust in the U.S. election system.” 30 The group’s recommendations included citizenship audits, additional sources for death notices and change-of-address data to update voter rolls, watermarked ballots to prevent reproduction of mail ballots, elimination of unofficial ballot drop boxes, replacement of signature verification with verification based on other items such as driver’s license number and Social Security number, enhanced ballot chain of custody, and others. 31
Lobbying
Secure Elections Project’s legislative and policy team includes representatives from West Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, Idaho, Texas, Utah, Arizona, and Michigan. 32 Secure Elections Project lobbies at the federal and state level. 33 In 2021, Secure Elections Project spent $42,000 on lobbying in Wisconsin. 34 35 Longtime Wisconsin Republican lobbyist Bill McCoshen was involved in these lobbying efforts. 36
In 2019, the project paid Arizona-based Triadvocates $120,000 for lobbying services. 37
Funding
In 2020, Secure Elections Project received a $2,058,000 grant from the left-of-center New Venture Fund (NVF) 38 and a $1,040,000 grant from the left-of-center Sixteen Thirty Fund, both of which are administered by Arabella Advisors, a philanthropy consulting firm for left-leaning clients. 39
In 2019, Secure Elections Project received $750,000 of contributions and grants and reported expenses of $584,695, of which the group spent $493,687 on its program services. 40 41 That year’s grants received matched a $750,000 grant the project received from the left-of-center Sixteen Thirty Fund. 42
References
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- “Home.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/.
- “Reports.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 10, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/report/
- “Leadership.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/about/.
- Ros-Lehtien, Ileana. “Plan for safe and secure Florida elections by doing these things | Column.” Tampa Bay Times. June 19, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2020/06/19/plan-for-safe-and-secure-florida-elections-by-doing-these-things-column/.
- Trey Grayson and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “Republicans must stand with poll workers and election officials | Commentary.” Orlando Sentinel. December 9, 2021. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-republicans-protect-election-officials-ros-lehtinen-20211209-vze5retzfre25odgf5snrpo3ee-story.html.
- “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NVF-2020-Public-Disclosure-Copy-1.pdf.
- “Sixteen Thirty Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21112116-sixteen-thirty-fund-2020-990.
- “Sixteen Thirty Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000175-e6b6-d27b-a5f7-f6b6bae70000.
- “Reports.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 10, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/report/.
- [1] “Secure Election Project.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/secure-election-project,833296530/.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Candid GuideStar. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/83-3296530.
- Leadership.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/about/.
- Ros-Lehtien, Ileana. “Plan for safe and secure Florida elections by doing these things | Column.” Tampa Bay Times. June 19, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2020/06/19/plan-for-safe-and-secure-florida-elections-by-doing-these-things-column/.
- Trey Grayson and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “Republicans must stand with poll workers and election officials | Commentary.” Orlando Sentinel. December 9, 2021. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-republicans-protect-election-officials-ros-lehtinen-20211209-vze5retzfre25odgf5snrpo3ee-story.html
- “The Center for Election Innovation and Research.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (From 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813815137/202121049349301762/IRS990.
- “Grayson, Trey. “Trey Grayson on the reliability of the American election system.” The Economist. October 26, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2020/10/26/trey-grayson-on-the-reliability-of-the-american-election-system
- “Grayson, Trey. “Trey Grayson on the reliability of the American election system.” The Economist. October 26, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2020/10/26/trey-grayson-on-the-reliability-of-the-american-election-system.
- [1] Grayson, Trey. “Republicans Should Be Defending Georgia’s Election Process.” New York Times. November 12, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/opinion/2020-election-raffensperger-georgia.html.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Candid GuideStar. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/83-3296530.
- “Kayje Booker.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayjebooker/
- Bice, Daniel. “Bice: Likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCoshen lobbies for election group funded by major liberal outfit.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 19, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2022. Accessed via web archive https://archive.ph/XNZ8H.
- Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- “Home.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- “Potential Cost Savings of Address update Automation in Iowa.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/report/potential-cost-savings-of-address-update-automation-in-iowa/.
- “Bucks for Buckeye Voters: An Analysis of Local Registration-Related Costs in Ohio. Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/report/bucks-for-buckeye-voters-an-analysis-of-local-registration-related-costs-in-ohio/.
- “Effectiveness of Automatic Verification and Registration on Registration Accuracy.” Secure Election Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/report/effectiveness-of-automatic-verification-and-registration-on-registration-accuracy/.
- “Policy Proposals to Restore Faith and Trust in the U.S. Election System.” Secure Elections Project. March 2021. Accessed March 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/app/uploads/2021/03/Policy-Proposals-to-Restore-Faith-and-Trust-in-the-U.S.-Election-System_final-1.pdf.
- “Policy Proposals to Restore Faith and Trust in the U.S. Election System.” Secure Elections Project. March 2021. Accessed March 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/app/uploads/2021/03/Policy-Proposals-to-Restore-Faith-and-Trust-in-the-U.S.-Election-System_final-1.pdf.
- “Leadership.” Secure Elections Project. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.secureelectionsproject.org/about/
- “Lobbyist Declarations.” The Iowa Legislature. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-republicans-protect-election-officials-ros-lehtinen-20211209-vze5retzfre25odgf5snrpo3ee-story.html.
- “Lobbying Principals.” Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Accessed March 9, 2022. https://lobbying.wi.gov/Who/PrincipalInformation/2021REG/Information/9352.
- Bice, Daniel. “Bice: Likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCoshen lobbies for election group funded by major liberal outfit.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 19, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2022. Accessed via web archive https://archive.ph/XNZ8H.
- Bice, Daniel. “Bice: Likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCoshen lobbies for election group funded by major liberal outfit.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 19, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2022. Accessed via web archive https://archive.ph/XNZ8H.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- [1] “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NVF-2020-Public-Disclosure-Copy-1.pdf.
- “Sixteen Thirty Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21112116-sixteen-thirty-fund-2020-990.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- “Secure Election Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/833296530_201912_990O_2020081017225593.pdf.
- “Sixteen Thirty Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000175-e6b6-d27b-a5f7-f6b6bae70000.