Commentary
2024 United States Election Resources
Election season is in full swing, and Election Day is fast approaching. The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation has compiled a list of election-related articles, resources, and events to keep you up to date.
Upcoming events
November 6 — Debriefing the United States Election
Join us for a debrief the day after the U.S. Presidential Election with Ash Center faculty Danielle Allen, Archon Fung, and Alex Keyssar.
Attendance is limited to in-person Harvard ID holders and registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. This event will be recorded.
November 7 — Three Super Cycle Elections (U.S., India, Indonesia) & Implications for ASEAN
The panel, “Three Super Cycle Elections (U.S., India, Indonesia) & Implications for ASEAN,” will explore how recent elections in these major economies could shape ASEAN’s future. The discussion will focus on potential impacts on trade and investment, macroeconomic and fiscal policies, geopolitical alignments, national and regional security, and decarbonization strategies, providing insights into how ASEAN might best navigate this evolving global landscape. Panelists will also discuss strategies for maintaining economic resilience and balancing diplomatic relationships amid these significant political changes. The panel will take place on November 7th, 2-4 pm, in the Belfer Case Study Room, CGIS South.
November 7 — A Democracy Post-Mortem: What Exit Poll Data Reveals About Race in America Today
On November 7, join Professors Leah Wright Rigueur and Khalil Gibran Muhammad for a virtual conversation two days after the most pivotal U.S. presidential election in over a century. Elements of our democracy may not survive regardless of the outcome. The two scholars will examine exit poll data to understand how the weaponization of race and racism threatens American democracy now and in the future.
November 14 — The Global Impact of the United States Election
Join us for a debrief with Ash Center faculty Jeeyang Rhee Baum, Erica Chenoweth and Anthony Saich to discuss the global impact of the recent U.S. election.
Attendance is limited to in-person Harvard ID holders and registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. This event will be recorded.
November 20 — The Role of AI in the 2024 Elections
The year 2024 was dubbed “the largest election year in global history” with half the world’s population voting in national elections. Earlier this year, we hosted an event on “AI and the 2024 Elections” where scholars spoke about the potential influence of artificial intelligence on the election cycle– from misinformation to threats on election infrastructure. This webinar will offer a reflection and exploration of the impact of artificial intelligence on the 2024 election landscape.
Harvard Votes Challenge
Harvard Votes Challenge is a nonpartisan initiative that strives to build a civic culture at Harvard University by increasing voter registration and participation among students, staff, and faculty. To help HVC get out the vote on campus and mobilize other students, faculty members, and staff, find voting and civic engagement resources to share with your friends and family on the HVC site.
News and Analysis
News and Analysis
Q+A
Will Mobile Voting Defeat Gerrymandering and Increase Participation?
News and Analysis
Feature
Beyond the Ballot: Ensuring a Transparent, Secure, and Fair Election in 2024
News and Analysis
Feature
In Swing States, Rest Assured: Election Officials Are Prepared for Anything
News and Analysis
Feature
Women are still underrepresented in local government, despite a woman running for president
News and Analysis
Feature
Grassroots efforts to increase voting are gaining momentum in these states, even as other states make voting harder
News and Analysis
Commentary
A Sudden Change at the Top: Was the Democratic Party’s Transition Truly Democratic?
News and Analysis
Commentary
Overview of Protest Activity Around the 2024 Democratic National Convention
News and Analysis
Commentary
The Real Numbers: Tracking Crowd Sizes at Presidential Rallies
News and Analysis
Feature
Political Violence in America: Causes, Consequences, and Countermeasures
News and Analysis
Commentary
What is Kamala Harris’s Story and Why Does it Matter So Much?
Curious about the role of the Electoral College?
The Electoral College is viewed as a democratic anachronism in modern-day America, yet it has persisted for over two centuries despite repeated attempts to reform or abolish the institution. To build off of an Ash Center symposium hosted in April 2024, our scholars and researchers continue to seek answers to some of the biggest questions surrounding why the Electoral College has remained impervious to change for so long and what are the prospects for reform. Below, we invite you to explore several resources geared toward resolving these enduring debates.
Election-related Resources
Video
Election Officials in Swing States and the 2024 Election
The Ash Center hosted a discussion with the heads of elections from Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina to hear about their actions to ensure the election process is smooth and can be trusted.
Video
Political Violence and the 2024 Presidential Election
This webinar convened scholars and practitioners in a conversation about how to de-escalate and sideline election-related violence in the wake of the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
Policy Brief
Celebrities Strengthening Our Culture of Democracy
This study provides an analysis and evaluation of how celebrity engagement impacts civic participation in the United States. When and why do celebrities decide to use their influence to encourage civic engagement? What difference do their actions make?
Video
Can Higher Education Help Renovate American Democracy?
The Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation hosted a webinar with several panelists to discuss a host of new campus initiatives that offer promising pathways for higher education to reassert its vital role in strengthening democracy by engaging students’ civic learning and supporting their development as civic actors.
Video
Engaging Fans, Empowering Voters: How Professional Sports are Promoting Civic Engagement
The Ash Center hosted a discussion with representatives of the NBA, NFL Votes, the co-founder of Vet the Vote, and the Deputy Secretary of State of Georgia to discuss how these partnerships are succeeding at supporting voter participation and fair and secure elections.
Case Study
Jail-Based Voting in Denver: A Case Study
In this latest report on providing access to registration and voting for the hundreds of thousands of Americans being held in jails without having been convicted, Tova Wang looks at how Denver – and the State of Colorado – have become a model for the nation.