Election Initiatives commissions and oversees research, projects, and case studies aimed at helping states improve their elections systems. Because effective elections systems are fundamental to our nation’s democracy, we work with election officials, policy makers, researchers, technology experts, businesses, and other stakeholders in the election process to help guide our research and test our recommendations.
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RESEARCH from the Project
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
New Report Evaluates State Election Websites
A new report from the Pew Center on the States finds that many states have improved their election sites since 2008, but there are still missed opportunities to better help and inform voters online. Being Online Is Still Not Enough assessed
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- Data Visualizations
- Election Initiatives
Being Online is Still Not Enough
Millions are turning to official state election websites to find the information they need to cast a ballot. Being Online Is Still Not Enough provides state-by-state reviews and analysis based on detailed criteria of election websites for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
New Hampshire Dispatch: Ballots Already Cast in Presidential Primary
The first ballots in the 2012 New Hampshire Presidential Primary, scheduled for January 10, have already been cast.
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- Report
- Election Initiatives
Being Online Is Still Not Enough
This 2011 report provided state-by-state reviews and analysis based on detailed criteria of election websites for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
Notable Counties—Maricopa County, Arizona
Our latest "Notable Counties" dispatch comes from Arizona. As more states start requiring photo ID at the polls, how these measures will affect elections is unclear. more
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
Notable Counties—Tippecanoe County, Ind.
In 2007, Tippecanoe County, Ind., home of Purdue University, shifted from precinct-based elections to vote centers. more
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
Texas Dispatch: Estimating Total Election Costs
Texas has a detailed statute obligating the Secretary of State to track the number of state elections and their administrative costs. But the statute cannot ensure that counties track data accurately. more
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
Massachusetts Dispatch: Projecting Elections Costs
The 2009/2010 Massachusetts special elections that elected U.S. Senator Scott Brown cost approximately $7.8 million. The state auditor’s office had estimated the cost would be close to $7.2 million.
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- Q & A
- Election Initiatives
Matt Morse: Voting Information
In today’s information-driven, highly mobile society, people expect the information they need to be available immediately and through multiple online platforms. Pew’s Election Initiatives has spent three years developing the Voting Information Project, which leverages technology to increase voter access to critical election information and improve the efficiency of state election administration. The project works with election offices, Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Facebook, civic groups, and numerous outlets around the country to deliver important answers to voters’ most commonly asked questions. more
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- Dispatch
- Election Initiatives
The Rise of Non-Precinct Place Voting
Recent data from the Census Bureau show that people are increasingly voting outside the traditional polling place, a shift that greatly impacts how election officials prepare and pay for elections.
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