Video  

Democracy on the (Down) Ballot: Unpacking the Midterms, Voting Rights, and Local Electoral Reforms

During the 2022 midterms, voters not only cast a ballot to decide the balance of power in congress, but in in many states voters decided on a range of consequential ballot initiatives impacting the nuts and bolts of the electoral process including voter-ID laws, party primary reform, ranked choice voting, and proportional representation. The outcomes of these statewide and local level ballot initiatives have direct implications for future elections and participatory democracy.

This midterm recap webinar goes beyond the candidate horse race and focus on analysis and perspectives from advocates and scholars on recent voting-related ballot initiatives, immediate implications for future elections, and what’s ahead for emerging electoral reforms at the state and local level. See panelists Deb Otis, Director of Research at FairVote; Jenny Lee, Deputy Director of the Coalition of Communities of Color; and Wendy Underhill, Director of Elections and Redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ash Center Reimagining Democracy Fellow Nick Chedli Carter moderated.

Related Resources

The historic firsts of the 2026 midterm elections
A snapshot of some of the new elected officials from the 2026 U.S. midterms.

Commentary

The historic firsts of the 2026 midterm elections

Election night 2026 produced a remarkable roll call of historic firsts. From the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state to the first Muslim elected to the Senate, voters broke barriers across state and party lines.

Terms of Engagement–Will The Trump Administration Be Held Accountable?
Photo of Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno and the Terms of Engagement header.

Podcast

Terms of Engagement–Will The Trump Administration Be Held Accountable?

On this week’s episode of the Terms of Engagement podcast, co-hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer welcome Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno, CEO of RepresentUs, to discuss what accountability could look like in the next two years.

More on this Issue

The historic firsts of the 2026 midterm elections
A snapshot of some of the new elected officials from the 2026 U.S. midterms.

Commentary

The historic firsts of the 2026 midterm elections

Election night 2026 produced a remarkable roll call of historic firsts. From the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state to the first Muslim elected to the Senate, voters broke barriers across state and party lines.

What the 2026 Midterm Results Mean for Technology Policy

Commentary

What the 2026 Midterm Results Mean for Technology Policy

This overview maps the technology policy themes from the 2026 US midterm elections, drawing on local ballot measures and proposals from newly elected officials.