In Person Union Voting Is Necessary To Protect Workers’ Safety, Rights

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) issued a new report criticizing labor unions’ efforts to implement electronic voting in union representation elections.

The report is relevant because federal lawmakers may have to consider a provision in the fiscal year 2023 House spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies that would require that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to implement a system to conduct union representation elections electronically.

The report analyzes the history of unions’ efforts to pursue electronic voting and offers a look at the failed efforts by various governments to implement online voting. It concludes:

• Authorizing online voting would break with NLRB precedents;
• Online voting increases the risk of coercion and fraud in elections;
• Online voting presents serious cybersecurity concerns; and
• The cost of administering and securing online voting systems would not be an efficient use of NLRB resources.

The report emphasizes the advantages of in-person voting, including higher voter turnout and the reduction of fraud. In-person elections with secret ballots also guarantees freedom from coercion and ensures individuals’ votes will remain private, which protects the integrity of the vote. Click here to read the full report.