A BRIEF HISTORY
Spurred by the scandalous election frauds which prevailed in NYC in the early 1900's, a group of outstanding civic leaders, led by former President Teddy Roosevelt, brought about the formation of the Honest Ballot Association in 1909.

Among its founders were Edward R. Finch, Charles S. Whitman, Albert S. Bard, William M. Chadbourne, Charles Evans Hughes Jr., William J. Schieffelin, Mrs. Charles L. Tiffany, and Mrs. Learned Hand.

The HBA is dedicated to the principle that an honest vote is essential for the preservation and enhancement of our 'American Way of Life.' The HBA has encouraged full and effective participation in our nation's democratic electoral system.

Although its primary purpose was to investigate and uncover fraudulent election practices, HBA also became involved in the study of election law, recommendations to improve election law and many other educational pursuits.

To this day, HBA consults and advises local and state governments as well as foreign nations on the conduct of elections. In 1937, at the request of then, Special Prosecutor, Thomas E. Dewey, the HBA undertook the supervision of its first labor election.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During its many years of service to the American public, HBA has realized much in the way of solid achievements:

• Drafting and revising election laws
• Led the fight to modernize voting procedures, including helping to replace paper ballots with touch-screen and scanning machines in NYC
• Helping to secure absentee balloting for members of the Armed Forces during World War II
• Securing evidence against dishonest election officials
• Forcing the prosecution of fraudulent voters

HBA TODAY
With its vast experience in conducting thousands of elections for labor unions, associations, credit unions, tenant groups, housing cooperatives, student bodies, school boards, and philanthropic institutions and lotteries, the HBA remains one of the nation's foremost resources for insuring proper voting procedures.

Through its corporate division, which employs the latest data processing technology and highly skilled personnel, HBA is also involved in supervising and conducting corporate elections. A diversified group of civic, educational and philanthropic organizations have sought the advice and assistance of the HBA. The HBA has also conducted collective bargaining elections between management and labor and has handled elections for large housing cooperatives, credit unions and student bodies of prestigious colleges and universities. Many organizations have entrusted HBA with their elections for decades. Some have even designated HBA as their electoral agent within their constitutions and by-laws.

In recent years, we have incorporated hi-tech equipment with our election procedures, including, but not limited to: Scanners, Internet Voting, and Touch-Screen Technology.