U.S. Election Administration Remained Strong in 2024 Announcing the 2024 Elections Performance Index

Yesterday, we launched the 2024 Election Performance Index, which showed that election administration continues to improve in the United States. Learn more about the index and the indicators involved in calculating it at

Elections Performance Index A nonpartisan, objective measure of U.S. election administration.

The Elections Performance Index compares election policy and performance across states and election cycles, with data going back to 2008. Today we’re excited to announce that the 2024 update to the Elections Performance Index is now live! Check it out and explore the 2024 update: buff.ly/CUHbiOm.

Episode one features our own director, Charles Stewart III, for a lively conversation on the importance of using data-driven insights to help election officials reduce barriers to the ballot box.

The Election Trust Research Podcast At a time when American elections are being tested in new and complex ways, it’s more important than ever to bridge the gap between those who run elections and those who study them. The Center for…

Our friends at the Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections at UC San Diego have launched a podcast bridging the gap between election researchers and practitioners!

Give it a listen 🎧 buff.ly/nSITLh8

Each of these projects aims to improve policymaking and practice, and features a strong partnership with practitioners to align research goals with the needs of election administrators, policymakers, and legislators.

Practice-Oriented Research to Improve Voter Registration and List Maintenance | MIT Election Lab Maintaining secure, accurate, and accessible voter registration rolls is an ongoing challenge that has come under increased political scrutiny in recent years.

Today we’re awarding grants to ten research projects across the country that aim to improve the security, accuracy, and accessibility of voter registration systems and list maintenance practices. buff.ly/g0xAjUC

Research and Reality of Rural Election Administration Books & Ballots · Episode

Miss last week's Books and Ballots webinar featuring researchers and practitioners specializing in rural election administration? Check out full coverage of their conversation on YouTube or Spotify

Spotify: buff.ly/wzqOhpJ
Youtube: buff.ly/EFg4Dc7

Reminder: the Books and Ballots deep-dive on rural election administration is *today* (March 26) at 1 p.m. ET! RSVP us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... and learn more ⬇️

Join Dr. Cameron Wimpy, Director of the Institute for Rural Initiatives at Arkansas State University, for a discussion on the unique challenges and opportunities that distinguish rural election administration.

Research & Reality of Rural Election Administration This Books & Ballots webinar shares challenges and opportunities in rural election administration discussed at the Rural Election Administration Symposium recently hosted by the Institute for Rural Initiatives (IRI) at Arkansas State University.

Reminder: This month's Books and Ballots webinar will be on Thursday, March 26 from 1-2 p.m. ET. RSVP using buff.ly/O8Httcv

2026 Request for Proposals Submit your project proposals for the 2026 Election Science, Reform, and Administration Conference through March 20, 2026! Proposals should emphasize the practical applications of scholarly research in the field of election administration. Do not exceed more than 250 words.

Today is the last day to send in a proposal for the 2026 ESRA Conference! ESRA's purpose is to engage both election practitioners & scholars to encourage collaboration on processes and ideas that drive innovation in election administration. Learn more & apply today on their website: buff.ly/NTBooaE.

Books and Ballots Research & Reality of Rural Election Administration March 26, 2026, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET

March 26, 2026 is the next Books and Ballots webinar! This month Dr. Cameron Wimpy, Director of the Institute for Rural Initiatives at Arkansas State University, will lead a discussion on the challenges and opportunities that set rural election administration apart.

🔗 RSVP: buff.ly/kiAMlQg

Presentation proposals for the 2026 ESRA Conference are being accepted through March 20, 2026! This is a fantastic opportunity to share best practices in election administration and connect with academics and practitioners alike. Learn more by going to https://esra-conference.org/2026-call-proposals.

Presentation proposals for the 2026 ESRA Conference are being accepted through March 20, 2026! This is a fantastic opportunity to share best practices in election administration and connect with academics and practitioners alike. Learn more by going to buff.ly/P8QF8gC.

2026 Request for Proposals Submit your project proposals for the 2026 Election Science, Reform, and Administration Conference through March 20, 2026! Proposals should emphasize the practical applications of scholarly research in the field of election administration. Do not exceed more than 250 words.

The 10th Annual Election Sciences, Reform, and Administration Conference is taking place this June in Phoenix, Arizona! The conference is currently accepting proposals for projects focused on pressing issues in U.S. elections. All proposals must be received by Friday, March 20.
🔗 buff.ly/NTBooaE

This is a fantastic opportunity for your city to be the home base for a collaborative environment of academics and election practitioners who are dedicated to strengthening election administration.

Call for Proposals to Host

Reminder: Tomorrow (March 13) is the deadline to send in proposals to host the 2027 Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) Conference!

Apply today on ESRA's website: buff.ly/bjOTotN

Thanks Michael! You're right, of course, and we go into more detail about that in the full text of the explainer.

Provisional ballots | MIT Election Lab Since the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) became law in 2002, all states have been required to use provisional ballots.  The only exception is states that offered same-day registration when the National…

Since 2002, states have been required to use some form of these ballots, intended to provide fail-safe protection when there are questions about a voter's registration status on Election Day. Learn more in our explainer: buff.ly/lGUuXal

During election years, stories about provisional ballots pop up in the news nationwide. But what *is* a provisional ballot?

Call for Proposals to Host Contact

ICYMI: the ESRA Conference is looking for someone to host the 2027 conference. Could that be you? Proposals are due by Friday, March 13! Learn more on their website ➡️

Are Elections Trusted? What Researchers Are Finding Tuesday, February 24 | 2 pm ET Trust in elections can be divided into two major ideas: whether the public perceives that elections are free and fair, and whether the electoral process provides evidence that elections are conducted according to law.

What can current research tell us about confidence & trust in elections? Join the next "Books & Ballots" webinar on 2/24 at 2pm ET to hear from three leading academics about their ongoing research on this hot topic. More info & registration can be found here: buff.ly/GALSRTz

A hex map of the United States showing our 2024 precinct data collection & publication process. Nearly every state is now green, indicating that the data are available in our repository. NJ is blue, indicating that the state's data are in our quality assurance process. NY, MS, AZ, CA, and OR are yellow, indicating that data collection is still in progress for those states

If you've been following along with our precinct project work, you may have already seen that we've uploaded four more states to our 2024 precinct-level dataset! Louisiana, Idaho, Hawaii, and Wyoming are now live. You can find the full dataset on our GitHub: buff.ly/gxPObXI

Encouraging Innovations in Election Administration Funding - Elections Group The challenges of election administration funding are well-known. Addressing these challenges at scale will require thinking outside the box. In 2025, Auburn University and the Election Center put…

ICYMI: The Elections Group is hosting a phenomenal panel discussion tomorrow (1/22) focused on the challenges of election funding (and what successful solutions might look like). Don't miss out! More info & registration available here:

Practice-Oriented Research to Improve Voter Registration and List Maintenance | MIT Election Lab Maintaining secure, accurate, and accessible voter registration rolls is an ongoing challenge that has come under increased political scrutiny in recent years.

Final reminder! Proposals for our grant supporting research on voter registration and list maintenance are due TODAY, January 16. The RFP will turn into a pumpkin at midnight; don't miss out. More info & form to submit are on our website:

Research Support Associate 2 MIT - Research Support Associate 2 - Cambridge MA 02139

We're hiring! Our team is searching for a new research associate to support research in the Lab. An ideal candidate might be someone who is just graduating & wants to see what a research environment is like before going on to graduate school. Learn more and apply here: buff.ly/fJpIeSt

Don't forget: proposals for our new grant supporting research on voter registration + list maintenance are due by Friday, January 16! Review the RFP or submit your proposal here:

Election friends, the MIT Election Lab team will be stepping away from our screens for some R&R until January 5. We wish you all a peaceful close to 2025; see you in 2026!

Practice-Oriented Research to Improve Voter Registration and List Maintenance | MIT Election Lab Maintaining secure, accurate, and accessible voter registration rolls is an ongoing challenge that has come under increased political scrutiny in recent years.

Don't forget: the clock is ticking on our RFP supporting research that aims to improve voter registration systems + list maintenance practices! Proposals are due Jan. 16; optional letters of intent due by Dec. 15. More info on our website:

Program/Project Administrator, SRS MIT - Program/Project Administrator, SRS - Cambridge MA 02139

Project Manager: buff.ly/6Meq3KJ
Communications Associate: buff.ly/1601UHw

Come work with us! We are looking for ✨TWO✨ new folks to join our team this winter: a project manager to ensure our trains run on time, and a communications associate to grow our outreach efforts. More info available on MIT's career portal, linked below: