R Street Institute 2024 Election Resources

Experts and research for covering the 2024 elections. To reach our scholars, e-mail pr@rstreet.org.

Featured Scholars

Matt Germer

Policy Director, Governance

Chris McIsaac

Resident Fellow, Governance

James Wallner

Former Resident Senior Fellow, Governance

Connect

To connect with or book our scholars, please e-mail pr@rstreet.org.

Overview

Voters are frustrated and exhausted by the United States’ current electoral system. At the same time, many others don’t trust our elections. But free, safe, and fair elections are foundational to our American democracy. This is why rebuilding trust in our elections and ensuring Americans can vote for the best possible candidates is more important now than ever before.

The R Street Institute’s Governance policy program recognizes this and has worked over the past several years to modernize and improve our electoral system in order to elect leaders who are worthy of public trust and who appeal to a larger number of Americans.

Under the leadership of Matt Germer, R Street’s Governance policy program has published in-depth research that tackles these challenges and provides real solutions that can improve our electoral system and rebuild confidence among voters. We’ve explored primary and general election reforms, examined the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on elections, helped ensure safe and secure elections, and studied other related issues. Germer has also spent 2024 training as a poll worker and has discussed those experiences.

Read more about R Street’s elections research below. If you would like to connect with our scholars, email pr@rstreet.org.

Projects & Research

Building Trust in Elections

Summary: For more than a year, representatives from the R Street Institute and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University have traveled around the country to bring together more than 100 election officials, election administrators, business leaders, advocates, scholars, and others working to help bolster and defend American elections.

In November 2023, the two organizations hosted a multi-day convening, culminating in a public-facing rollout of conservative principles for building trust in elections. The half-day event featured remarks from sitting elected officials in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas and Utah, as well as public opinion experts, private-sector leaders, and scholars.

The partnership builds on the work of R Street’s Governance team and their focus on electoral reform research and public policy.

Project in the news:

May 2024: A group of Republicans has united to defend the legitimacy of US elections and those who run them, by the Associated Press
September 2024: In private meetings and public town halls, Republicans and Democrats work to restore voter trust and faith in democracy, by News21: Fractured

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Elections

Summary: AI is already impacting upcoming U.S. elections and other political races around the globe. Much of the public dialogue focuses on AI’s ability to generate and distribute false information, and government officials are responding by proposing rules and regulations aimed at limiting the technology’s potentially negative effects. However, questions remain regarding the constitutionality of these laws, their effectiveness at limiting the impact of election disinformation, and opportunities the use of AI presents, such as bolstering cybersecurity and improving the efficiency of election administration. While Americans are largely in favor of the government taking action around AI, there is no guarantee that restrictions will curb potential threats.

This paper explores AI impacts on the election information environment, cybersecurity, and election administration to define and assess risks and opportunities. It also evaluates the government’s AI-oriented policy responses to date and assesses the effectiveness of regulating the use of AI in campaign communications through prohibitions or disclosures. It concludes by offering alternative approaches to increased government-imposed limits, which could empower local election officials to focus on strengthening cyber defenses, build trust with the public as a credible source of election information, and educate voters on the risk of AI-generated disinformation and how to recognize it.

What To Expect On Election Day In Seven Battleground States

Summary: This short explainer lays out what to expect on election day 2024 across the United States and in the seven battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Published October 2024.

Summary: Earning the consent of the governed is a foundational principle of American government. In practical terms, the “governed” includes two perspectives: electoral winners and losers. Getting the consent of the latter is essential to maintaining stability and peace, and it is no easy task. And as evidenced by the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, securing losers’ consent has become more tumultuous today than at any point since the Civil War. This study investigates the way “losers” offer their consent, how they have increasingly withheld consent in recent elections and what can be done to stabilize our democracy by securing greater consent from losing voters.

Reimagining the Ballot: A Comprehensive Look at Primary and General Election Systems

Summary: The existing U.S. party structure significantly undermines competition in both primary and general elections, resulting in political gridlock and inadequate representation of voters’ viewpoints. In response, several states are exploring reforms for their 2024 elections to promote greater choice and competition in both phases of their electoral process. As these states consider changes, it is vital that they tailor potential reforms to the unique characteristics of their state to maximize participation and representation within the complexities of the electoral process.

This paper discusses the critical role primary elections play in democratic participation and candidate selection, highlighting the various primary systems—including open, closed, and blanket primaries—and exploring the unique advantages and drawbacks of each. It then delves into the implications of different numbers of candidates in general elections. It concludes by emphasizing that different electoral systems may better fit specific regional contexts and that blanket primaries combined with ranked-choice voting in the general election can significantly enhance democratic engagement.