White Papers

This paper uses qualitative evidence to make the case that government agencies can cultivate more responsive, effective, and democracy-enhancing social programs by more consistently and thoughtfully engaging the people they serve.

President Donald Trump’s March 25th election integrity executive order creates unfunded mandates for election officials and throws up unnecessary barriers for eligible U.S. citizens to participate in elections – barriers which would disproportionately harm members of the military and their families, as well as married women.

Our team analyzes the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) and its implications on state election systems.

Governments have long been attentive to regulatory burdens placed on private businesses, and are now increasingly considering administrative burdens experienced by members of the public. Such burdens can significantly worsen people’s experience of government, and limit access to valued resources, especially for those who most need government help. What would it look like if governments tried to build a policy framework that took burdens seriously? This white paper by Donald Moynihan and Morten Hybschmann dives into just that.

This white paper poses the questions: Do communities have better health outcomes in states with less restrictive voting policies? And is the opposite also true – do communities have worse health outcomes in states with more restrictive voting policies? Healthy Democracy Healthy People's Gnora Mahs explores actionable ways that health professionals can be champions for an inclusive and representative democracy.

As students make their way back to college campuses this Fall, access to the ballot box might be at the front of their minds. This report contains a list of barriers that many students face, as well as policy solutions that states and colleges can implement to ensure that all eligible student voters can cast a ballot come Election Day.

As legislatures enact reforms to improve election administration, it is essential that funding for local election officials is increased to meet the increased burden placed on jurisdictions. This report details why.

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.