Office of the President

As Florida and Ohio dramatically illustrated in 2000 and 2004, lawyers play a crucial role in resolving election disputes peacefully, according to the rule of law. More generally, all lawyers can support the rule of law and public service by promoting a fair electoral process and responding to challenges to fair and impartial courts raised during judicial election campaigns.

In anticipation of the November 2008 general election, state and local bar associations are encouraged to promote a fair electoral process. The ABA's Election Administration Guidelines and Commentary call on the bar to conduct activities that ensure the integrity of the process, and to encourage lawyers to serve as Election Day officials.

Bar associations can use the ABA's Election Administration Guidelines and other resources to help citizens exercise their voting rights and to provide technical assistance to election authorities. In August, the ABA will distribute these materials in a Bar Leader Toolkit. The Toolkit will also highlight volunteer opportunities for lawyers such as the Election Protection Project and contain a sample president's column, letter to the editor, op-ed, and PowerPoint on voting rights and responsibilities.

Also in August, the ABA will launch a web site for lawyers and the public on voting rights and other election information. In conducting election-related activities, state and local bars may wish to link to and publicize this site to their members and the public.

Please share with us
A special feature of the voting rights web site will be an interactive map offering state-specific information on voting resources. If your bar is conducting election-related activities, please share them for inclusion on the web site, to assist voters in your state, and in the Toolkit , so that other bar associations may learn from them. For bar associations in states with judicial elections, please share any resources you make available to voters for inclusion on the interactive map. To share your ideas, or if you have any questions, please contact Ira Pilchen in the ABA Office of the President, pilcheni@staff.abanet.org, 312-988-6044.

Please visit the links to the right, where you'll find ABA election administration policy, information on lawyer volunteer opportunities, resources for promoting fair and impartial courts, and more.