Mark Hammond (R)
Mark Hammond has spent his tenure as Secretary of State pushing policies that make it harder for everyday voters – especially students and working families – to participate in elections. Despite little evidence of widespread fraud, he endorsed stricter voter ID laws and supported restrictive absentee ballot rules. Hammond’s moves suggest a pattern: tightening access under the guise of “security,” even when this disproportionately burdens marginalized communities and college students.
Worse yet, Hammond has aligned with national voter restriction trends, including backing efforts to demand proof of citizenship from registrants – policies critics warn could trigger mass purges and disenfranchisement. By prioritizing procedural barriers over voter access, Hammond has positioned himself as part of a broader right-wing push to narrow the electorate and consolidate political power at the expense of democracy.