Over the weekend, I had the honor of traveling to Romania, at the invitation of their Permanent Electoral Authority, to observe the first round of its presidential election held on May 4. I witnessed firsthand an electoral process that not only met, but in many ways exceeded, international democratic standards. As a member of the Federal Election Commission, I’ve observed elections around the globe, and Romania’s system stands out as a model of transparency, security, and civic dedication.
Voting across Romania proceeded in an orderly fashion, with strong safeguards in place. Every vote was cast using a paper ballot, and the entire ballot-counting process was not only done in the presence of poll watchers from every political party but also recorded on video to guarantee transparency. There were no delays in reporting results. In fact, the entire country completed its electoral count within hours of polls closing — a testament to both the simplicity and the integrity of the process.
While in Bucharest, I met with Romania’s prime minister to discuss these electoral procedures in detail. I was particularly impressed with how their voter registration system allows only Romanian citizens to register — an essential safeguard for maintaining the integrity of their elections. They’ve also taken cyber threats seriously. I was briefed on reported attempts to disrupt the election by foreign actors. Romania’s swift and effective response preserved trust in the outcome.
Romania is a nation still emerging from the shadow of its communist past. Many middle-aged citizens remember life under authoritarian rule, where elections were symbolic rather than meaningful. That memory fuels a deep national respect for democratic principles and a commitment to guarding them. It’s why its elections are treated with the seriousness they deserve: secure voter rolls, every voter presenting identification, paper ballots, transparent counts, and timely results.
It’s striking how closely Romania’s process aligns with the principles laid out in the SAVE Act and the Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump. The executive order, issued last month, is currently being implemented. The SAVE Act, meanwhile, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year and is now pending in the Senate. These measures would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, restore universal use of paper ballots, and strengthen ballot chain-of-custody protections — all policies already in place in Romania.
Unfortunately, in the United States, commonsense reforms such as these often become politically polarizing. But democracy should never be a partisan issue. Romania’s approach is not about Left or Right, it’s about trust, verification, and national unity. Its system proves that a secure, efficient, and transparent election process is not only possible but practical.
In my statement on the election, I commended the Romanian people for their active civic participation and unwavering commitment to democratic values. Their conduct reflects a nation that takes democracy seriously — something the U.S., as a long-standing ally, should both respect and learn from.
Democracy is strengthened through transparency, resilience, and mutual respect — principles that unite our nations. With the SAVE Act, we have an opportunity to reaffirm those principles at home and ensure that every person can trust the outcome of our elections.
Trey Trainor currently serves as Chairman of the Federal Election Commission. He was nominated as a commissioner by President Donald Trump and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2020. He is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Legislative and Campaign Law and has practiced election law for over two decades.