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Using data-driven scientific analysis, we strive to better understand how elections function in the U.S. Here we provide a guide to core research by MEDSL and others in this area.

Research

Research Explainers

Modes of voting

Research pertaining to how Americans cast ballots

Voting and participation

Research pertaining to access to the ballot box and exercising the franchise

Administering the system of elections

Research pertaining to managing the process of voting

Projects

Projects

Evaluating U.S. Elections
Elections Performance Index
The Elections Performance Index is the premier assessment tool to evaluate election administration across the nation. It allows viewers to compare election administration policy and performance across states and from one election cycle to the next. The current index is based on the U.S. presidential and mid-term elections ranging from 2008–2016.

Working Papers
+ Reports

Working Papers

Modeling Voting Service Times with Machine Logs
Jacob Jaffe, Charles Stewart III, and Jacob Coblentz
Residual Votes and Abstentions in the 2016 Election
R. Michael Alvarez, Stephen Pettigrew, Charles Stewart III, and Cameron Wimpy

Reports

May 2018
Improving The Voter Experience: Reducing Polling Place Wait Times by Measuring Lines and Managing Polling Place Resources
John C. Fortier
Charles Stewart III
Stephen Pettigrew
Matthew Weil
Tim Harper