“Democracy is a fragile endeavor that requires all citizens to reflect on what they value most, listen to their neighbors to understand where their values intersect, and act on those values by respectfully advocating for a system that balances the priorities of all citizens. In our tour around the state, it was striking the degree to which students, community leaders, and the broader public were able to reason through these values, understand each other (even in disagreement), and engage in a policy-focused discussion of elections and reform.”
Erik Herron and Samuel Workman – Charleston Gazette-Mail
About The series
The “Election Integrity in the Mountain State” initiative is designed to increase public understanding of the election process and to engage the people of West Virginia – and beyond – in meaningful discussions about their priorities. In late 2020 and early 2021, Erik Herron and former West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant had several conversations about how to address growing skepticism in the quality of American election administration. These conversations developed into an effort to consult with policymakers and the public on the election process.
The team conducted research and talked to a wide range of stakeholders in 2021. An invitation by Secretary of State Mac Warner to attend the annual meeting of West Virginia County Clerks in July 2021 enriched the project by adding to our base of knowledge and allowing us to speak directly with the people who implement elections in the state.
The project formally launched in March 2022 when Erik Herron and Paige Wantlin participated in the West Virginia Humanities Council’s Little Lectures series. Thanks to generous support from the West Virginia Humanities Council and National Endowment for the Humanities “A More Perfect Union” initiative, we held a series of public events in Morgantown, Buckhannon, and Glenville in September and October 2022. These events featured group discussions about pressing election issues, challenging participants to reflect on their values rather than partisan preferences. More activities are planned in 2023 and beyond.
The “Election Integrity in the Mountain State” workshop program was made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities through the West Virginia Humanities Council. This event series was also made possible through generous support by Glenville State University, West Virginia University, and West Virginia Wesleyan College. We would also like to thank the West Virginia and Regional History Center at West Virginia University for providing materials and resources from the Senator John D. (“Jay”) Rockefeller IV digital archives.
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Election Integrity in the Mountain State 