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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Voting Equipment Costs in Massachusetts
Replacing old voting equipment does not always mean buying new machines. In Lawrence, MA, voters cast paper ballots that are then counted by optical-scan technology. The voting booths where they fill in their ballots can wear out, too. more
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Special Ballots in the District of Columbia
In 2012, the District of Columbia issued voters an unprecedented number of special ballots—which are the same as provisional ballots, according to the city’s 2012 After-Action report. This was due in part to the city’s use of Election Day registration for the first time in a presidential election. more
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Vote by Mail Election in Albuquerque, New Mexico
The city of Albuquerque is holding a special election to amend the city charter that will be conducted entirely by mail, and the early returns show some problems with the process. more
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The Cost of Eliminating Election Day Registration in Wisconsin, Part Two
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board recently released its final report on the cost of ending Election Day registration in the state. The study estimated the price tag at $14.5 million, almost three times as much the initial projection provided in a preliminary report last December. more
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Orange County, California, Poll Workers
Since 2009, the Orange County registrar of voters has been conducting customer service surveys, including surveys of poll workers. more
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Cost of Provisional Ballots, Maricopa County, AZ
This past November, Maricopa County, Arizona, issued the most provisional ballots in its history. In an in-depth report, the county elections department provides detailed information including not just why these ballots were issued and rejected, but also estimates of how much they cost. more
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Mail Ballots in Contra Costa County, California
A newly released report from Contra Costa County, California, shows more voters than ever voted by mail in the November 2012 presidential election, reflecting a general trend in California. more
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Voter Registration in Colorado
In a review of Colorado’s 2012 general election, the secretary of state’s office describes its participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a data center the state formed in partnership with Pew and six other states. In mid-September, using reports from ERIC, the state identified more than 720,000 Coloradans as eligible to vote but unregistered and invited them to register online, rather than using the traditional and inefficient paper forms. more
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Early Voting in Tennessee
In 1994 Tennessee became one of the first states to allow in-person early voting. And like other states, Tennessee has seen the number of voters casting ballots before Election Day increase significantly in the years since. more
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Election Initiatives Response to Bipartisan Voting Commission Announcement
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced a commission to improve the voting experience on Election Day. This is an important step forward. Pew Election Initiatives Director David Becker released the following in response to the president's announcement. more
