Case Studies

In 2024, the Institute for Responsive Government launched A More Responsive Government Grant Program. The nonpartisan program offered direct, flexible support to local election offices in the seven states that have led the way in modernizing elections – Colorado, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington, D.C. This case study discusses the impact of funds on grantees.

Carnegie Mellon University modernized voter registration drives on campus, becoming the first educational institution in the country to adopt a voter registration application programming interface.

Colorado in recent years has emerged as a true leader in improving its legislature as a professionalized, accommodating workplace that works for candidates from many walks of life. Former legislative leadership notes that these policies have worked best as a package to create an “ecosystem” that can attract and retain leaders with the best ideas, no matter their circumstances.

This white paper examines Pennsylvania’s recent success in responding to concerns from citizens that it took too long for a business, nonprofit or individual to receive a permit, license or certificate they had applied for.

In Arizona, very few voters actually provide physical documents while registering to vote. Instead, election officials use existing state and federal databases to verify citizenship for the vast majority of applicants. This paper discusses how Arizona's proof of citizenship law actually works.

A Summary of UMD’s Texas and Georgia Case Studies