White Papers

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Cost of ElectionsElection Official Resources
The State of Philanthropic Funding Bans for Election Administration

With reduction in federal funding for elections, it falls to states to properly fund elections. However, this white paper finds the states continue to fail to provide increased ongoing funding to support local election administration.
Modernizing Voter Registration
Four States Open the Door to Automatic Voter Registration for Native Americans

Though it's been 100 years since Native Americans were extended the right to vote, they still continue to face barriers to the ballot box rooted in their historical mistreatment. This paper discusses those obstacles and then offers Tribal automatic voter registration as one solution to aid in registration rates amongst Native communities.

Modernizing Voter Registration
Boosting Voter Registration: New Data from Delaware

Building off of previous data from Colorado, new data out of Delaware confirms that upgrading to secure automatic voter registration (SAVR) can significantly boost eligible voter registration rates.
Remodeling Democracy
Ranked Choice Voting: Avoiding a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Voters and legislators considering RCV should carefully assess the changed or unpredictable electoral outcomes RCV will bring in their state, including for candidates of color, and whether these outcomes further or undermine their goals.
Pro-Democracy Practices
What Other Countries Can Teach Us About Turnout

This report investigates the roles different voting structures around the world play in increasing turnout among eligible voters. The purpose is to surface several alternatives the United States could explore as a way of confronting its voting challenges and increasing turnout.
Modernizing Voter Registration
Comparative Voter Registration: Lessons from Abroad for Improving Access and Accuracy in the United States

This report looks at what best practices from a sample of peer nations that states (or the federal government) should consider adopting, including greater centralization, improved data sharing operations, regularized and timely voter contact, and the selective targeting of unregistered populations.
Modernizing Voter Registration
Assessing Potential Automatic Voter Registration Partner Agencies and Programs

Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) programs are most often associated with motor-voter programs at state DMVs across the nation. But is that the only government agency where AVR could work? This paper explores alternative government agencies where current infrastructures would support forms of AVR.
Cost of Elections
State and Local Spending on the Administration of Elections: Insights From a Review of 12 States and 93 Localities

For decades, there have been resounding issues with funding elections across the country. Outside of lack of federal funding for elections, one of the main reasons for this is that the systems for financing the administration of elections are as decentralized and varied as the systems for conducting elections. This paper reviews experiences and elections budgets from 12 states to better educate those in the electoral space about the dire need for more funding.