White Papers

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Making Participation PowerfulProportional Representation
Proportional Representation: An Intervention for More Electoral Competition and Better Governance

Proportional representation would not only enhance democratic fairness but also encourage higher voter turnout and facilitate cross-party coalitions.

Making Democracy DeliverMedicaid
Unbalanced Ledger: Why States Can’t Afford Deep Medicaid Cuts

How proposed cuts to federal Medicaid funding would create insurmountable deficits in state budgets that would decimate the program’s ability to function – even for Medicaid recipients lucky enough to retain coverage.

Making Democracy Deliver
Constituent Voice: A Key Tool for More Effective Administration of Government Programs

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.

Election Official ResourcesMaking Participation Possible
Key Takeaways from President Trump’s Election Integrity EO

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.

Making Participation PossibleProof of Citizenship
The SAVE Act: How a Proof of Citizenship Requirement Would Impact Elections

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

Making Democracy DeliverState Hiring Reform
Reducing Administrative Burdens: The U.S. Federal Government Framework

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.

Voting Policy and Health: Evidence as a Call to Action for Health Professionals, Organizations, and Institutions

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.

Making Participation PossibleRegistration APIs
Voter Access on College Campuses

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.