There’s a New York Times editorial today that argues for nonpartisan election administration, based on continued allegations that Ohio’s current Secretary of State (and candidate for Ohio governor), Kenneth Blackwell, is using his office to make partisan decisions that could sway the outcome of the gubernatorial election:

The latest news from the state’s governor’s race is that the Republican nominee, Kenneth Blackwell, who is also the Ohio secretary of state, could rule that his opponent is ineligible to run because of a technicality.

…

Election administration should be removed from partisan politics, in Ohio and everywhere else. Decisions like these should be made by nonpartisan bodies or, failing that, by people who do their utmost to insulate themselves from partisan politics. In 2004, Mr. Blackwell chose to become co-chairman of President Bush’s Ohio campaign, and then issued rulings that helped the campaign. Now we have the even more bizarre prospect of Mr. Blackwell, or his deputy, potentially participating in the baseless disqualification of his opponent.

Hear, hear … music to our ears! See VTP working paper 47, “Who Should Run Our Elections? Public Opinion About Election Governance in the United States.”