What Changed in Elections Between 2020 and 2026?

Guest post by Linda Brickman

Citizens Rediscovering the Importance of Citizenship

INTRODUCTION

For many Americans, the years between the 2020 and 2026 elections were a period of unprecedented change. Election procedures evolved, laws were challenged and revised, courts weighed in on election-related disputes, and citizens became more involved in the electoral process than at any time in recent memory. Questions that were once discussed only by election officials and policy experts became topics of conversation in communities across the nation.

PART 1 – The Environment of 2020

The years surrounding the 2020 Election were unlike any period in modern American history. A global pandemic, emergency government actions, rapidly changing election procedures, economic uncertainty, social unrest, litigation, and intense political polarization combined to create an environment unlike anything most election officials, candidates, or voters had ever experienced.

Virtually overnight, Americans found themselves navigating circumstances that had never before existed on such a scale. Government agencies, businesses, schools, churches, and community organizations struggled to adapt. Daily life changed dramatically as citizens attempted to understand a rapidly evolving situation.

Election officials faced challenges of their own. Long-standing procedures were examined, modified, and, in some cases, replaced by emergency measures which were implemented reportedly to address concerns surrounding the pandemic. Courts became involved in election disputes. Legislatures debated election-related policies. Election administrators were required to make decisions in an atmosphere of uncertainty, urgency, and unprecedented public scrutiny.

At the same time, citizens began paying closer attention to election administration than ever before. Questions that had once been discussed only by election professionals suddenly became topics of public conversation. Voters wanted to understand how elections were conducted, how ballots were processed, what safeguards existed, and how election laws were being applied.

Regardless of political affiliation, confidence in elections became a national discussion. Americans who had never before attended a public meeting, volunteered as observers, read election statutes, or followed election procedures began asking questions and seeking answers.

The result was a level of public engagement unlike anything many election officials, candidates, or political activists had previously witnessed.

The period between 2020 and 2026 would bring significant changes to election administration, election law, citizen involvement, and public awareness. Some of those changes occurred through legislation. Others resulted from litigation, administrative decisions, policy revisions, training improvements, and increased public participation.

Yet the most important story may not be found in a statute, a court ruling, or a procedures manual.  It may be found in the citizens themselves.

To understand what changed between 2020 and 2026, we must first understand how an entire nation began paying attention to processes that many had previously taken for granted.

PART 2 — What Changed?

1 The Election Procedures Manual Changed

One of the most visible changes between 2020 and 2026 was the continued evolution of election procedures. Election administration is not a static process. As laws are enacted, court decisions are issued, and practical experience is gained, election procedures are reviewed and updated.

The Election Procedures Manual became the subject of increased public attention as election officials, candidates, political parties, observers, and citizens sought a better understanding of how elections are conducted. Procedures were clarified, guidance was expanded, and election administrators continued working to address issues identified through experience, legislation, and litigation.

Not all changes were universally welcomed. Many proposed revisions generated significant public comment, criticism, debate, and in some cases legal challenges. Citizens who had never before paid attention to the Election Procedures Manual suddenly found themselves reading, analyzing, and commenting on provisions that previously received little public attention.

Whether one supported or opposed particular changes, the increased level of citizen involvement represented a significant departure from prior election cycles.

While most voters may never read the Election Procedures Manual, its growing visibility reflected a larger trend. Citizens were becoming more interested in understanding not only election outcomes, but also the processes used to achieve them.

2 Chain of Custody Became a Household Phrase

Prior to 2020, the phrase “chain of custody” was familiar primarily to election officials, attorneys, auditors, and others directly involved in election administration. Most voters simply assumed established procedures existed and rarely gave the subject a second thought.

Following the 2020 Election, that changed dramatically.

As citizens began paying closer attention to election processes, interest in ballot security, transportation, storage, accountability, and documentation increased. Questions that had once been limited to election professionals became topics of discussion at public meetings, community gatherings, training sessions, and legislative hearings.

Citizens wanted to know how ballots were handled, who had responsibility for them, what records were maintained, and what safeguards existed to ensure accountability throughout the election process. Whether those questions were asked by supporters, critics, election workers, or concerned voters, the result was the same: greater public awareness of election administration.

The significance of this change extends beyond chain of custody itself. It reflects a broader shift in public engagement. Citizens were no longer content to know only the outcome of an election. Increasingly, they wanted to understand the processes that produced that outcome.

In many ways, the rise of public interest in chain-of-custody procedures symbolized a larger transformation taking place throughout the election system.

Americans were becoming students of the process rather than simply observers of the results.

3 Election Litigation Clarified Procedures

The years following the 2020 Election saw a significant increase in election-related litigation across the nation. Courts were asked to review a wide range of issues involving election administration, ballot procedures, voter eligibility requirements, deadlines, observation rights, and the interpretation of election laws.

While individual cases often generated public debate and political disagreement, the cumulative effect of this litigation was greater clarification of election procedures. Questions that may have once been unresolved or inconsistently interpreted were increasingly examined through the legal process.

Legislators, election officials, political parties, candidates, and citizens gained a better understanding of how existing laws were to be applied and where statutory changes might be necessary. In some cases, court rulings reinforced existing procedures. In others, they prompted revisions, modifications, or additional guidance.

The significance of this period was not simply the number of lawsuits filed. It was the fact that election administration received an unprecedented level of legal examination. As a result, many procedures that had once operated with little public attention became more clearly defined and more widely understood.

Just as citizens became students of election processes, courts became an important part of defining how those processes would be interpreted and implemented moving forward.

4 Election Training Expanded

One of the less visible but important changes between 2020 and 2026 was the expansion of election-related training and education.

Election officials, poll workers, observers, volunteers, political parties, and citizen organizations increasingly recognized the importance of understanding election procedures and responsibilities. As public interest grew, so did opportunities for training and education.

Across the country, election workers received updated instructions on procedures, technology, security protocols, and legal requirements. Political parties and citizen groups developed training programs designed to help volunteers better understand election administration and observation processes. Educational materials, seminars, webinars, workshops, and community meetings became more common.

This increased emphasis on training reflected a broader reality. Citizens were no longer satisfied with simply participating in elections. Many wanted to understand how elections worked, what safeguards existed, and how they could contribute to the process in a meaningful and informed manner.

The expansion of training benefited more than election administration. It helped create a more knowledgeable electorate. Individuals who took the time to learn often became resources within their own communities, sharing information, answering questions, and encouraging others to become involved.

Education became one of the most important tools for increasing transparency, building public confidence, and encouraging informed participation in the election process.

5 Citizen Observation Increased

Perhaps one of the most significant changes between 2020 and 2026 was the dramatic increase in citizen observation and participation in election-related activities.

Prior to 2020, relatively few citizens sought opportunities to observe election processes beyond casting their own ballots. Election administration was often viewed as the responsibility of election officials, political parties, and a small number of trained volunteers.

Following the 2020 Election, that dynamic changed. Citizens across the country became increasingly interested in understanding how elections were conducted and what role they could play in promoting transparency and public confidence.

Many volunteered as poll workers, election observers, ballot processing observers, party representatives, and citizen volunteers. Others attended public meetings, reviewed election procedures, participated in training programs, and sought firsthand knowledge of election administration.

For many citizens, observation became an educational experience. Individuals who had never previously entered a ballot processing center, attended an election-related hearing, or reviewed election procedures found themselves learning about processes that had once seemed distant or unfamiliar.

Whether motivated by curiosity, concern, civic responsibility, or a desire to better understand the system, these citizens helped create a new culture of engagement.

Their participation reflected a growing recognition that public confidence is strengthened when citizens take the time to learn, observe, and become informed participants in the election process.

The observer was no longer a passive bystander.

The observer became a student of the process.

6 Citizen Participation Changed

Of all the changes that occurred between 2020 and 2026, perhaps none was more significant than the change in citizen participation.

Historically, many Americans viewed their civic responsibility as voting on Election Day and then returning to their daily lives. Election administration was largely left to government officials, political parties, candidates, and a relatively small number of volunteers.

Following the 2020 Election, a noticeable shift occurred. Citizens became more engaged in the election process itself. Many citizens who initially became involved because of questions or concerns soon discovered a broader lesson. Effective self-government requires more than casting a ballot. It requires informed participation, ongoing education, and a willingness to remain engaged long after Election Day has passed.

As knowledge increased, so did involvement. Citizens began sharing information with friends, neighbors, family members, and community organizations. Many became educators in their own right, helping others understand election procedures, government processes, and the importance of civic engagement.

The result was a more informed and active citizenry. While disagreements over policy, procedure, and election administration continue, the level of citizen involvement increased significantly. Americans were no longer content to be passive observers of government. Increasingly, they sought to become active participants in the process.

This transformation may ultimately prove to be the most important change of all. The lasting impact of the years between 2020 and 2026 may not be measured solely by changes in laws, procedures, or court decisions, but by the number of citizens who chose to become informed, engaged, and involved.

PART 3. What Has Not Changed?

While much has changed between 2020 and 2026, some of the most important principles remain exactly the same.

The need for transparent elections has not changed.

The need for accountability has not changed.

The need for public confidence in election outcomes has not changed.

The need for citizens to trust that election laws are applied fairly and consistently has not changed.

Nor has the responsibility of citizens in a self-governing republic.

The debates may continue. New challenges will undoubtedly emerge. Future elections will bring new questions, new technologies, and new issues to address.

Yet one lesson remains constant.

Self-government is not self-sustaining.

Each generation must learn it.

Each generation must teach it.

And each generation must preserve it.

That responsibility has not changed since 2020, and it will not change in 2026 or beyond.

Some disputes remain.

Some questions remain.

Some debates remain.

While many procedures, policies, and levels of citizen engagement changed between 2020 and 2026, disagreements over election administration, litigation, public confidence, and government accountability continued. In many respects, the debates themselves remained as vigorous as ever.

At the same time, one notable difference emerged. There was a noticeable rise in citizen involvement, organization, and participation. Americans who may once have remained on the sidelines increasingly chose to become active participants in discussions affecting their communities, elections, and government institutions.

PART 4. The Biggest Change of All

The greatest change between 2020 and 2026 was not found in an Election Procedures Manual, a court ruling, a legislative bill, or an administrative policy.

It was found in the citizens themselves.

Questions that were once asked only by election officials, attorneys, and policy experts became topics of discussion around kitchen tables, in community meetings, and among neighbors and friends.

People wanted to understand.

They wanted to learn.

They wanted to participate.

Most importantly, they began to recognize a simple but profound truth:

Elections are not a spectator sport.

In a Constitutional Republic, citizenship is not a passive activity. Voting is important, but voting alone is not enough. Self-government requires citizens who are willing to learn, ask questions, seek answers, and remain engaged long after Election Day has passed.

The greatest lesson of this period may be that informed citizens are not born—they are developed through education, experience, involvement, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

The awakening that occurred between 2020 and 2026 was not merely an election story.

It was a citizenship story.

And that may prove to be the most important change of all.

PART 5. What Comes Next?

If the years between 2020 and 2026 taught us anything, it is that self-government requires more than participation. It requires education.

The question is no longer whether citizens should be involved.

The question is how.

How do we begin?

We begin by learning.

We learn how elections work. We learn how legislation is passed. We learn the responsibilities of elected officials. We learn the difference between the various offices on the ballot. We learn what questions to ask and why the answers matter.

Where do we begin?

We begin where all meaningful education begins: in our homes, our schools, our churches, our civic organizations, our political parties, our communities, and our conversations with one another.

Who teaches?  All of us.

Parents teach children.

Grandparents teach grandchildren.

Teachers teach students.

Mentors teach future leaders.

Citizens teach fellow citizens.

Knowledge grows when it is shared.

Why is this necessary?

Because a constitutional republic cannot survive on autopilot.

An informed electorate produces better candidates.

Better candidates produce better public officials.

Better public officials produce better policies.

And the cycle begins again.

The responsibility of citizenship extends beyond Election Day. Voting is important, but it is only one step in the process. Citizens must also learn, question, evaluate, participate, and help others understand the responsibilities that accompany self-government.

Perhaps the greatest lesson of the years between 2020 and 2026 is that education is not an event.

It is a lifelong commitment.

The goal is not simply to increase participation.

The goal is to create an informed citizenry capable of asking the right questions of the right candidates for the right offices.

The work continues.

The learning continues.

And so must we.

The future of our Republic will not be determined by what citizens do on Election Day, but by what they do every day between elections.

I am ready to learn… so I can teach.

Linda Brickman

© 2026 Linda Brickman. All Rights Reserved.

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