As the smoke (slowly) clears from the 2020 elections, advocates for full participation and democracy reform are charting a path forward. In Congress and in state legislatures, the lessons of 2020 and the new contours of politics will shape efforts going forward. What is the terrain reformers will confront, what are the reforms being proposed, and what are the prospects for success, short term and long term? The Ash Center is pleased to pose these questions to four leading democracy advocates and election experts:... Read more about Looking Forward: The Paths and Prospects for Democracy Reform
Join Archon Fung for an exploration of some possible futures of American democracy and what can be done to create a more equal and inclusive democracy. Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. His research explores policies, practices, and institutional designs that deepen the quality of democratic governance with a focus on public participation, deliberation, and transparency. He co-directs the Transparency Policy Project and leads democratic governance programs of the Ash Center for...
Election 2020 proved to be historic in terms of the numbers of voters that were mobilized to the polls. The Election also made clear that there would be no nationwide repudiation of Trumpism. Join the Carr Center for Human Rights and the Ash Center for a conversation with leading scholars of racial politics about the election turnout, voter suppression, and what this means about the state of democracy today. This event is part of the Bending the Arc: A Talk Series with Dr. Megan Ming Francis.
The upcoming US election is unlike any in recent memory. Many are afraid that this most basic process of Americans voting to select their next President may break down. In this discussion, we’ll explore what election break down could look like: a President refusing to concede, a state legislature disregarding the popular vote, a tie breaker by a Supreme Court some view as illegitimate, Congress deciding the election according to “contingent election” provisions, or something else altogether? We’ll also explore how a wide range of democracy organizations and civic networks are...
The LGBTQ community has made significant strides towards equality and progress in recent years, but has also faced renewed hostility and political setbacks. Across the country, practitioners and activists are working to mobilize a diverse coalition and encourage them to make their voices heard on Election Day. Join the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation as we discuss the priorities of LGBTQ voters and how they are being mobilized to get out and vote this November. Panelists include:
Chasten Buttigieg, Fall 2020 Fellow, Institute of...
As we approach the final weeks of the election campaign, Secretaries of State - particularly in swing states - face tremendous pressures as they fulfill their responsibilities to provide a smooth, inclusive, and safe election that delivers a trusted result. The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation is privileged to bring together a bipartisan group of secretaries from the key swing states of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. They will discuss the challenges they are facing, the pressures they are under, and what they are doing to make the November elections...
Every election cycle, we lament low young voter turnout rates. Yet, in the last few years, young people have been at the forefront of the movements for racial justice, climate justice, gun violence prevention, and policing issues. They have taken their advocacy to the streets and to elected officials. We saw an uptick in youth voter rates in 2018. Now, will this energy translate into an even larger upswell of young voters in November?
You’re invited to join the Ash Center and Institute of Politics in discussion with leading experts about the latest young voter polling data,...
This event concluded on October 08, 2020. View the original description and event recording below.
In just over three weeks, millions will head to the polls and elect the president of the United States via an arcane institution that permits the loser of the popular vote to win, and narrows campaigning to just a handful of swing states. In this discussion, Prof. Alex Keyssar will be joined by Prof. Edward Foley and Tova Wang to discuss his new book, why the founders settled on such an institution, it’s persistence over the hundreds of years since, and current efforts to preserve, circumvent, or abolish it.
This event concluded on October 6, 2020. View the original description and event recording below.
The national reckoning on racial inequity, amidst the continued spread of Covid-19, has spurred major efforts to ensure full participation and a strong turnout in November’s elections. This is particularly true among the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community – the fastest growing minority group and a major voting bloc. Join us for a conversation with leading practitioners in the field on the importance and state of current efforts to engage AAPI voters, AAPIs’ role and connection to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the stakes of the upcoming election.... Read more about Rising: AAPI Engagement and the 2020 Elections
This event concluded on September 15, 2020. View the original description and event recording below.
What are the greatest threats to a successful U.S. election in November? Join the Ash Center in discussion with three leading U.S. election practitioners - one litigator, one election official, and one national grassroots organizing leader – as we ask each of them a series of questions about their greatest fears around the voting process, their work to achieve a fully inclusive and well-...
