Election Initiatives supports innovative research and partnerships to achieve the highest standards of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, convenience, and security in America’s system of election administration. Because effective elections systems are fundamental to our nation’s democracy, we examine pressing election problems, share successful practices, and undertake projects to help states implement efficient and cost-effective solutions.
Why Elections Systems Matter
American elections today operate much the way they did at the turn of the 20th century. Our work is aimed at modernizing elections systems, with a focus on three areas:
- Helping states improve voter registration systems, including maintaining accurate lists in a time of increased mobility;
- Collaborating with technology companies and state election offices to provide voters with easy access to official election information; and
- Strengthening research on election administration and developing data measures to provide an empirical assessment of how well our nation is conducting elections.
How We Conduct Our Work
- Policy Advocacy. In the states, we advocate for data-driven policies that make the best use of taxpayer resources while ensuring the highest standards of accuracy, convenience, security, and efficiency.
- Innovative Tools. We work with election officials, academics, and technology specialists to develop tools that help states streamline election processes and make the most of 21st-century technology.
- Research. We conduct policy-relevant research to identify areas of strength and weakness in current elections systems and to evaluate possible solutions. The findings help states improve the way elections are administered in the U.S.
- Information Sharing. Through events, online Election Data Dispatches, interactive graphics, and public appearances, we lead a national conversation on the importance of improved election systems. In doing so, we serve as a resource to state policy makers and election administrators making data-driven policy decisions.
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Subscribe to The Latest from the Project
The LATEST from the Project
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Pew's Elections Performance Index
The February 2011 Pew Elections Performance Index, describes an ongoing project to provide an empirical assessment of how well the nation’s elections are administered.
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Bill Focuses on Upgrading Voter Registration in Maryland
Frederick County Sen. Ron Young hopes to modernize election registration by using more technology. Young, a Democrat, is proposing two bills relating to voter registration. more
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N.C. GOP Lawmakers Determined to Pass Voter ID Bill
After years of arguments muted by Democrats, the newly installed Republican majority at the Legislature is resolute this year on expanding identification requirements before voters enter a polling booth. more
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Moving Toward a Better Election System for Military and Overseas Voters
The Pew Center on the States’ Military and Overseas Citizen Voting Initiative aims to remove the obstacles facing military personnel and citizens living abroad to ensure they can exercise their right to vote—no matter where they may be around the world.
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The Cost of Statewide Recounts
As part of its work to help build high-performing states, the Pew Center on the States commissioned a case study on two recent, high-profile statewide races that underwent recounts: the 2004 Washington state governor’s race and the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate race.
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Residual Voting in Florida
This October 2010 report described a project that examined the residual vote rates in the state of Florida’s 2008 presidential preference primary, taking advantage of a state law that, for a time, required all jurisdictions to report over- and under-votes at the precinct level.
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Voter Registration Data Accuracy
This July 2010 report revealed a voter registration system that was not serving America’s increasingly mobile voters. Trapped by the confines of an antiquated, paper-based system, election administrators did not have the necessary tools to improve the accuracy of the data in their state voter registration rolls.
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Assessing Electoral Performance in New Mexico
This April 2010 study provided an in-depth, systematic examination of New Mexico’s election ecosystem. Additionally, it offered administrative and legislative recommendations for New Mexico that would inform any state looking to improve the efficiency of its entire election process.
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Non-Precinct Place Voting
In 2008, Make Voting Work released a Request for Proposals for research that would examine alternatives to precinct-based election day voting, including early in-person and absentee voting and vote by mail systems.
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Online Voter Registration
This March 2010 report provided a comprehensive examination of the implementation, operation, public confidence and usage of online voter registration in Arizona and Washington.
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