Election Reform Research

The Portman Center is leading a national research project investigating election reform initiatives, ranging from primary reform, alternative voting processes, and candidate recruitment. The Portman Center’s efforts are particularly focused on the public legitimacy of election reform processes among voters, elites, and partisan actors, so that any changes have the desired effect of stabilizing the democratic process and reducing polarization.

In 2024, the Portman Center issued a call for proposals for rigorous social science research aimed at investigating the impact of election reform initiatives in the U.S. Selected project leaders are serving as non-resident Research Affiliates and collaborate with the Portman Center to develop, conduct, and transmit research on election reform.

Current Projects

“Can Religious and Conservative Appeals Garner Support for Election Reforms?” Paul A. Djupe, PhD and Jacob Neiheisel, PhD

“Electoral Mandates and Ranked Choice Voting” Christian Fong, PhD

“Instant Runoffs, Instant Legitimacy? Studying Reforms in the Minds of Voters” Christopher F. Karpowitz, PhD; Michelangelo Landgrave, PhD; Todd Makse, PhD; and Anand Edward Sokhey, PhD

“Candidate Supply and Electoral Reform” Danielle Thomsen, PhD