What journalists need to know about potential threats to the ballot initiative process
In this commentary, the manager of a voter empowerment project discusses what it takes for citizens to get a proposition on the ballot.
Politics & Government
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers related to the topic of politics, elections, and local and national governments
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2022: What we can learn from predictive models and polls
Will 2022 be a ‘normal’ year for voting on House seats? Academic statistical models predict a Republican win in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, but opinion polls add a cautionary note.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2022: ‘Known unknowns’ in the US midterms
We know reapportionment, redistricting, and a host of new laws affecting ballot access may give Republicans an advantage, writes media scholar Tom Patterson. The unknowns lie in the impact that each of those factors will have.
Expert Commentary
The role of local election officials: 5 studies to consider
We highlight recent research that can inform journalists who are reporting on precinct staffing challenges, bias in who gets help voting, and more.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2022: How state laws threaten and weaken voting rights in the US
In the lead-up to the Nov. 8 midterm elections, journalists might want to keep an eye on how state laws are weakening voting rights, writes media scholar Thomas Patterson.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2022: Don’t forget to cover voter registration deadlines
In the lead-up to the Nov. 8 midterm elections in the U.S., it’s important for journalists to remind their audiences of voter registration deadlines in each state, writes media scholar Thomas Patterson.
Expert Commentary
How did President Biden go from zero to hero in the public arena so quickly?
In a Q&A, Harvard media scholar Thomas E. Patterson, who studies political journalism, explains the recent shift in tone in news coverage of President Biden.
Expert Commentary
Google searches for abortion pills spiked after the May leak of SCOTUS draft opinion on Roe v. Wade
The surge in searches highlights the importance of providing women with information on where they can legally and safely obtain abortion medications, including telemedicine consultations with health care professionals, note the authors of a new study.
Expert Commentary
The US Supreme Court is more conservative than 75% of Americans, study finds
Since 2020, the Supreme Court has grown more conservative than the public. Its ideological position on key issues ‘is now near the typical Republican,’ researchers conclude.
Expert Commentary
Can universal background checks curb gun violence? Here’s what the research says.
Studies suggest background checks can be effective — when combined with permit-to-purchase programs.
Expert Commentary