In an era of increased polarization and misinformation, local governments continue to play a critical role in defending democracy.
At the ICMA – International City/County Management Association’s Local Government Reimagined Conference, the National Civic League’s Director of Local Democracy Strategy, Laura Wood, and fellow panelists participated in a session that highlighted how the city of Philadelphia has approached election preparedness through transparency, voter communication, accessibility, and public trust. The session also featured findings from the Local Policy Lab‘s forthcoming case study documenting Philadelphia’s election preparedness work, along with other examples of local governments innovating to strengthen democracy at the community level.
This session ties into LPL’s partnership with the Brennan Center for Justice and the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections in working with cities to strengthen election preparedness ahead of the 2026 midterms. This work builds on successful 2024 scenario planning pilots in cities like Milwaukee and Lancaster. We are currently working with Philadelphia, Lancaster, Denver, and Green Bay, and are in conversation with additional cities across the country.
Their focus is on how mayors’ offices and cross-functional city teams (legal, communications, IT, public safety, and others) can:
- Support election administrators in delivering safe, secure, and well-run elections
- Communicate clearly and credibly with residents to build trust and reduce confusion
- Anticipate and respond to emerging risks, including misinformation, AI-enabled threats, and public safety concerns
- Coordinate effectively across agencies and with external partners under pressure
LPL provides hands-on, tailored support to cities, including:
- Readiness diagnostics and risk mapping
- Scenario planning and tabletop exercises
- Cross-agency coordination and capacity building
- Public communication and trust-building
This work helps cities identify vulnerabilities early, practice before challenges arise, and build systems that hold under pressure. Through a cohort model, participating cities also engage in peer learning, sharing strategies and lessons in real time while contributing to a broader, scalable model for election preparedness.
As part of this effort, LPL is also working with the city of Denver and other organizations to develop an Elections Preparedness and Continuity Playbook. This playbook will translate lessons from city and state partners into step-by-step guidance for election officials, emergency managers, and public safety leaders, and our plan is to distribute it widely throughout the U.S. It will cover core elements such as cross-agency coordination, threat and hazard analysis, scenario planning, emergency action planning, and communication strategies to support public trust. There is currently no comprehensive “one-stop” resource of this kind, and this playbook will help extend the impact of this work to cities nationwide.
By working with cities now, this initiative aims to reduce risks to election operations and public safety, strengthen public trust, equip local leaders with practical tools, and build durable systems that persist beyond a single election cycle. Early support will enable us to work with more cities ahead of 2026, deepen engagement through exercises and coordination, and develop tools and resources – including the playbook – that can benefit jurisdictions across the country.
Please contact Laura Wood at [email protected] for more information.
