As election officials and reformers gathered for an annual event in Los Angeles, the goal of upgrading California's elections took on special significance this year in the face of a crisis of confidence in democracy itself.

At the Future of California Elections Conference yesterday, the focus remained on improving the mechanics of elections administration with an eye toward the threat of politics gumming up the works.

"We have to be ready protect our advances and make sure elections, stay free, fair, open, accessible," said Dora Rose, senior director for civic engagement at the League of Women Voters California.

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