Secure Democracy Foundation Appoints Veteran Election Official Gabriel Sterling as Senior Fellow

Nationally Recognized Leader in Election Administration and Technology Modernization Joins Nonpartisan Organization to Advance Voting Security and Trust

Secure Democracy Foundation has named Gabriel Sterling, a longtime Georgia election official and public servant, as Senior Fellow. Sterling will advise the organization’s work to strengthen state election laws, modernize election administration processes, and build public confidence in voting systems. Sterling held several senior leadership roles in the Georgia Secretary of State’s office under Secretary Brad Raffensperger, including deputy secretary of state, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer. 

“Every eligible vote should be counted accurately, and every voter should have confidence in the result,” said Sterling. “That has been my goal throughout my career, and I’m so honored to join Secure Democracy Foundation’s efforts to ensure secure, modern, and transparent elections across the country.” 

“Gabriel Sterling has done the hard work of running elections under pressure and with integrity,” said Charley Olena, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at Secure Democracy Foundation. “He has rolled out new voting systems across the state, defended the accuracy of the count, and stood up for election workers when it mattered most. That experience will help states across the country build stronger elections that voters can trust.”

As Georgia’s statewide voting system implementation manager, Sterling led the largest rollout of new voting equipment in U.S. history, successfully deploying a secure paper-ballot voting system across all 159 Georgia counties on time and under budget. He also oversaw the implementation of GARVIS (Georgia Registered Voter Information System).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sterling helped lead the secretary of state’s operational response by expanding absentee ballot capacity and securing critical protective equipment for county election officials. After the November 2020 election, he briefed the public and media throughout Georgia’s hand recount — the largest hand recount in U.S. history — and gained worldwide recognition for his forceful defense of election workers and his calls to stop the spread of election disinformation.

Sterling has been recognized as an elections expert in national and state media, having been featured in programs and outlets such as 60 Minutes, PBS NewsHour, Meet the Press, CNN, FOX News, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Associated Press, The Atlantic, National Review, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among others.

Before serving in the Secretary’s office, Sterling was elected to the Sandy Springs City Council in 2011. His service in municipal government gave him firsthand experience in local policymaking, constituent services, and the practical challenges of delivering effective, accountable government to the people it serves. In addition to his role at Secure Democracy Foundation, Sterling serves as a contributor at Declare News. He holds a degree from the University of Georgia and resides in Sandy Springs with his wife, Caroline, and their son.

For press inquiries, contact press@securedemocracyusa.org.