On the eve of the 2020 General Election, the Center for Science and Democracy has put together several pieces of information to help voters keep track of the election after vote counts are released tomorrow. Throughout this year, we have documented the importance of election outcomes on health outcomes and questions of environmental justice, and now we have come to that moment, where over 150 million of us will collaborate in deciding our shared fate. Read more >
Michael's Latest Posts

A Political Scientist’s Guide to Following the Election
October 9, 2020 4:43 PM EDT
This is going to be a difficult election. But we have the tools, the technology, and the right to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to cast a vote and have it counted. Read more >

How Mail-in Ballots Might Affect Election Night
October 5, 2020 11:49 AM EDT
More people than ever before in the United States are expected to vote by mail-in ballot this election—an estimated 100 million. Mail-in voting is a proven practice, safe and secure. Several states have conducted their elections by mail as a matter of course for years and have experienced smooth elections with virtually no instances of fraud. The election could hinge on those mail-in votes and we may not know the outcomes in those states for days or even weeks. So, with that in mind, here are four possible scenarios of how election night could play out. Read more >

Voting, Ballot Rejection, and Electoral Integrity in the 2020 Election
September 29, 2020 3:52 PM EDT
For a variety of reasons, ballots can be rejected or “spoiled” if they are not filled out correctly or if verification protocols are not followed. This year, there is a great deal of concern over the surge of mail ballots that have been requested as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are observing key counties in the United States as the election unfolds, as reported in a previous analysis. Read more >

Lost Voters: Voter Turnout, Suppression and Mobilization in Key 2020 Election Counties
September 23, 2020 11:49 AM EDT
Enthusiasm for the November election may be at a record high, which is normally good news for a democracy. Unfortunately, even if there were not a global pandemic to contend with, voters still face barriers across states that have refused to modernize their election rules.