Resources to help journalists cover the 2024 US election
Our 2024 election collection includes resources to help you cover surveys and opinion polls, voting issues, election administration issues, local elections, and ballot measure topics.
Elections
Tip sheets, explainers and research roundups to inform coverage of elections
Expert Commentary
When can your state start processing advance ballots? Check out this interactive timeline
Find out when your state can start processing advance ballots for the November 2024 general election. States that get their advance ballots ready sooner will be able to count those votes and report results faster come Election Day.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2024: Remember to cover voter registration deadlines
In the lead-up to Election Day 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 in this research-based commentary.
Expert Commentary
The growing role of health care settings in voter registration: A research roundup
There’s a growing recognition that health care institutions can play an important role in mobilizing voters. We summarize studies that highlight these efforts and their outcomes.
Expert Commentary
Why journalists should look at question order when covering survey and poll results
We explain how question order bias can affect how people answer questions. We also offer five tips to help journalists spot the problem.
Expert Commentary
US presidential debates: 4 studies journalists need to read
We gathered research to help journalists explain how presidential debates influence voters’ decisions. These papers look at aggressive behavior on stage, the likelihood candidates’ performance will change voters’ minds and other topics.
Expert Commentary
Bad weather dampens Election Day turnout. Studies suggest mail ballots and other alternative voting methods can help.
Rain, snow and other types of bad weather can discourage in-person voting. Recent research shows how expanding mail voting and early and absentee voting can reduce the impact.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2024: Where are the issues?
Media scholar Thomas Patterson’s assessment of 2024 U.S. presidential election news coverage reminds him of years past: too few stories focusing on policy issues, and too many focusing on polls and overblown controversies.
Expert Commentary
Reporting on violence and threats against US election workers: 6 things to know
In this research-based tipsheet, we cover what journalists should know about the history of electoral violence in the U.S., whether Americans think political violence is justified and how election workers, also called poll workers, think about their jobs.
Expert Commentary
School board elections in the US: What research shows
To help journalists contextualize coverage of school board elections, we spotlight research on who votes in these elections, the role of teachers unions and how new board members can influence school segregation, funding and test scores.
Expert Commentary