What SMART Elections does

SMART Elections is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in New York City that advocates for secure, accessible, transparent, and publicly verifiable U.S. voting systems. The organization operates a portfolio of election protection programs headlined by #CountTheVote, a crowdsourced, data-based election verification initiative that trains and coordinates approximately 900 volunteers across 25 states in techniques including voter roll verification, logic and accuracy testing observation, voter check-in versus ballot reconciliation, poll tape photography, chain of custody documentation, public records requests, and audit observation. The program was tested in pilot form for six years before national rollout. Other core offerings include election observation and poll watcher training, the Brooklyn Transparency Pilot Project for voter-to-ballot reconciliation, a multi-state 2024 Election Drop-Off analysis covering 17 states, and #ElectionProtection Forums with ASL interpretation that have reached tens of thousands of viewers. The organization publishes educational content opposing specific voting machine systems (ExpressVote XL, Dominion ICE, VSAP LA) and has produced investigation videos exceeding four million views.

The organization's business model is entirely donation-based, with all contributions tax-deductible. Disclosed fundraising includes approximately $175,000 for the Rockland County lawsuit and approximately $90,000 for the #CountTheVote program, with a stated $500,000 goal for 2026 election protection work. The organization filed lawsuits challenging the 2024 election results in Rockland County and Harlem Assembly District 70, and an appeal is ongoing in Rockland County as of November 2025. SMART Legislation operates as a sister organization functioning as the legal action arm for litigation and legislative advocacy. The organization employs approximately 3-5 staff led by Co-founder and Executive Director Lulu Friesdat, supplemented by a Technical Advisory Team of election security experts from institutions including Princeton, Georgia Tech, UC Berkeley, NJIT, and USC/UCLA, and a network of 15+ partner organizations including AUDIT USA, Coalition for Good Governance, Florida Fair Elections Coalition, Center for Common Government, and the Carter Center.

Name

SMART Elections

Legal name

SMART Elections

Website

https://smartelections.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SMART Elections is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for secure and verifiable U.S. elections through its #CountTheVote volunteer verification program, training 900 volunteers across 25 states in poll watching, ballot reconciliation, and election observation, funded entirely by tax-deductible donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Election Integrity Advocacy Services

NAICS

Political Organizations (813940)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electoral Support & Election Observation (BPADAGAA), Civic Literacy (Voting, Rights, Community Participation) (EDAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Election security advocacy
• Election verification programs
• Nonpartisan poll watching
• Ballot integrity monitoring
• Voter education training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, SMART Elections relies primarily on tax-deductible donations from the public. The organization has conducted fundraising campaigns for specific initiatives including the Rockland County lawsuit (raised over $175,000) and the #CountTheVote election verification program (raised close to $90,000). The stated fundraising goal is $500,000 to protect the 2026 elections.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SMART Elections is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that runs the #CountTheVote program, a nonpartisan, data-based election verification initiative that trains and coordinates volunteers across 25 states to monitor elections, observe polls, photograph poll tapes, document discrepancies, and submit public records requests. The organization also provides election observation and poll watcher training, conducts multi-state election data analyses such as the 2024 Drop-Off Analysis, and through its sister organization SMART Legislation files lawsuits and advocates for legislation to improve election security.

Product overview

SMART Elections is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) nonpartisan election security advocacy organization, not a technology product company. Their offerings consist entirely of advocacy programs, training, and educational content: #CountTheVote (a crowdsourced election verification program using volunteers to monitor and verify election results across 25+ states), Election Observation & Poll Watching Training, the Brooklyn Transparency Pilot Project, 2024 Election Drop-Off Analysis, Voting Technology Education, published court documents from election integrity lawsuits, and #ElectionProtection Forums. Their work is conducted through commercial platforms (Google Forms, Substack, YouTube, Zoom) rather than a proprietary product. SMART Legislation serves as their affiliated action organization focused on litigation and legislation. The organization has no software products, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• #CountTheVote: A comprehensive, nonpartisan, data-based election verification program that trains local advocates in election verification techniques including checking voter rolls, observing logic and accuracy testing, documenting ballots cast, and filing lawsuits when needed.
• Brooklyn Transparency Pilot Project

Products and services

• #CountTheVote Program A nonpartisan, data-based election verification program that trains and coordinates volunteers across 25+ states to monitor elections through techniques including checking voter roll accuracy, observing logic and accuracy testing, documenting voter check-ins versus ballots cast, photographing poll tapes, observing chain of custody procedures, and filing public records requests.
• Election Observation & Poll Watching Training Training program that teaches nonpartisan volunteers and candidates how to monitor elections, protect votes, and challenge results, developed in collaboration with former election commissioners.
• Brooklyn Transparency Pilot Project A pilot program comparing the number of voters who sign in with the number of ballots scanned at polling locations to identify discrepancies and election irregularities.
• 2024 Election Drop-Off Analysis Multi-state data analysis examining the difference between presidential candidate votes and down-ballot race votes, covering 17 states including six swing states and eleven non-swing states, conducted by the SMART Elections Data Team.
• Voting Technology Education & Opposition Educational content and advocacy opposing specific voting machine systems including ExpressVote XL (ES&S), Dominion ICE, and VSAP LA, based on security research by experts including Princeton Professor Andrew Appel and UC Berkeley Professor Philip Stark.
• Court Documents & Public Records Publications Published court documents, public records requests, and discovery materials from Rockland County lawsuit challenging 2024 election results, and Harlem Assembly District 70 lawsuit challenging 2024 primary results.
• #ElectionProtection Forums Nonpartisan online forums with ASL interpreters and closed captioning that educate the public and officials about ongoing issues with U.S. elections, reaching tens of thousands of viewers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 900 trained volunteers actively observing elections across 25 states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SMART LegislationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMART Legislation is described as the 'action arm' of SMART Elections, functioning as the legal action and legislative advocacy component. Both organizations share leadership including Co-founder & Executive Director Lulu Friesdat. SMART Legislation files lawsuits and advocates for legislation while SMART Elections focuses on education, observation, and verification programs.
• Carter CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Carter Center and Alliance for Securing Democracy produced a joint report supporting nonpartisan election observation. NY State Board of Elections Co-Chair Douglas Kellner sent the organization this report supporting their work.
• AUDIT USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the #CountTheVote initiative, supporting the election verification and poll tape monitoring program across multiple states.
• CCoHOPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndivisible organization partnered with SMART Elections for the #CountTheVote initiative focused on election protection.
• Center for Common GroundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner organization in election protection efforts, particularly in voter mobilization and advocacy work.
• Coalition for Good Governance (Georgia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia-based organization partnering with SMART Elections for the #CountTheVote initiative. Executive Director Marilyn Marks has collaborated on election protection efforts.
• Citizens' Audit BrowardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida-based election integrity organization partnered for #CountTheVote initiative, conducting poll watching and ballot monitoring activities.
• Citizens for Voting Integrity New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York-based election integrity organization that co-signed letters with SMART Elections opposing voting machine certification.
• Democracy CountsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in election verification efforts, supporting poll tape monitoring and data analysis initiatives.
• Florida Fair Elections CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida-based election reform organization working on voting equipment issues and partnered for election protection efforts.
• Michigan Election Reform AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan-based election reform organization partnered for #CountTheVote initiative with teams in Detroit and Flint.
• National Voting Rights Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization partnering with SMART Elections for election protection and voting rights advocacy.
• Transparent Elections North CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Carolina-based organization partnered for election monitoring and verification work.
• Protect Our Vote PhillyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhiladelphia-based election protection organization partnered for monitoring and verification efforts.
• Reclaim Our VoteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization for voter engagement and election protection initiatives.
• Sign Language Connection (SLC) at Center for Disability RightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ASL interpreters for SMART Elections forums, ensuring accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
• Technical Advisory TeamcoreOthersAdvisory panel including Dr. David Bader (NJIT), Dr. Rich DeMillo (Georgia Tech), Dr. David Jefferson, Dr. Laura Pressley (USC/UCLA), Bennie Smith (Tennessee State Election Commissioner), John Brakey (AUDIT-USA), and additional specialists in voting rights, audits, accessibility, anti-corruption, and outreach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Common Cause: Established nonpartisan democracy reform advocacy organization with campaigns on voting rights, election administration, and campaign finance. Operates across all 50 states, giving it broader reach than SMART Elections but a less specialized focus on election verification and voting machine security.
• Brennan Center for Justice: Major election reform and voting rights program at NYU School of Law producing policy research, litigation, and advocacy. Significantly larger than SMART Elections, but comparable in producing data-driven analysis (e.g., drop-off, audit studies) used by election integrity advocates.
• Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Election Protection): Operates the Election Protection coalition (1-866-OUR-VOTE) providing voter protection and election monitoring. Adjacent to SMART Elections' poll watching work but with a much larger institutional footprint and legal apparatus.

Direct peers

• Verified Voting: Nonpartisan nonprofit focused on rigorous research and advocacy on voting equipment and election verification — the most direct technical analog to SMART Elections' #CountTheVote and voting technology work, including opposition to specific voting machine systems.
• Fair Elections Center: Nonpartisan election litigation and reform organization that files lawsuits and advocates for voting access and accurate elections. Comparable to SMART Legislation's litigation focus but with a longer track record in election-related court actions.
• Coalition for Good Governance (Georgia): Georgia-based election integrity organization led by Marilyn Marks that has directly partnered with SMART Elections on #CountTheVote and ballot image access litigation. Most direct state-level operational peer.
• Election Integrity Project: Volunteer-driven election integrity organization focused on voter roll verification and poll watching. Closely comparable to SMART Elections in GTM motion (community-led volunteer observation) and segment (nonpartisan election advocates).
• AUDIT USA: John Brakey-founded election audit organization and existing #CountTheVote partner that focuses on hand-count election audits. Direct overlap with SMART Elections' election verification methodology and John Brakey sits on the Technical Advisory Team.

Emerging players

• RepresentUs: Nonpartisan anti-corruption and election reform organization running state and federal advocacy campaigns. Comparable in nonpartisan cross-ideological framing of election integrity, though focused more on legislative and ballot measure campaigns than field observation.
• Protect Democracy: Nonpartisan advocacy organization litigating and advocating to protect democratic institutions. Overlaps with SMART Elections/SMART Legislation in election integrity litigation but with a broader anti-authoritarianism scope.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SMART_elections
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=yQvn3zJus_c
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-elections

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMART Elections