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The State Democracy Research Initiative works to produce high-quality research and share its findings and insights with the public, press, advocates, scholars, and judges. This work takes a variety of forms, from timely commentary to comprehensive overviews of all 50 states to forward-looking legal analysis.

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Explainers

North Carolina Supreme Court Election Protest

Emily Lau 02.21.25

More than a month after the November 2024 election, the result of the North Carolina Supreme Court race is still uncertain. There have been two recounts—one machine and one partial hand recount—neither of which changed the initial result: Democrat and incumbent North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs still leads over Republican North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin by just under 750 votes. The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) also rejected an election protest brought by Judge Griffin, challenging the eligibility of over 60,000 voters who cast a ballot in the last election. Judge Griffin, however, disputes that ruling, and litigation is now underway.

In the Media

The Cap Times: Most of Gov. Tony Evers' Cabinet is unconfirmed. Here's why it matters

Emily Lau 01.21.25

"As the incoming Trump administration seeks to get its appointees confirmed, a new session in the Wisconsin Legislature offers Gov. Tony Evers a fresh chance to get more of his appointees approved. Of Evers’ 17 Cabinet-level appointees who oversee state government agencies, six have been confirmed by legislators."

In the Media

WXOW: Lunch & Learn looks at US and Wisconsin constitutions

Emily Lau 01.08.25

“'What I hope that people take away is that constitutional amendments and the potential constitutional convention isn't something that we need to be afraid of,' she said. 'It's something that we can embrace as part of the democratic process. But also that it's really important that as involved citizens and voters that we pay attention to these issues.'”

Commentary

The Conversation: What is ‘dark money’ political spending, and how does it affect US politics?

Emily Lau 09.25.24

Every campaign season brings renewed attention to the amount of money influencing American politics, and who is spending it, and for what purposes. In particular, people are concerned about what is called “dark money.” The term sounds scary and raises the specter of shadowy people manipulating the nation’s politics. This piece unpacks what dark money is, what concerns it raises and what might be done to address it.

In the Media

Votebeat Wisconsin: Wisconsin election officials get some clarity on which tasks they’re allowed to outsource

Emily Lau 06.27.24

"Wisconsin election officials welcomed a clarification from the state attorney general this week on the scope of a constitutional amendment limiting who can conduct elections. But some local clerks and legal experts aren’t convinced that it’s enough to curb confusion over the measure or the risk of disruptive lawsuits."

In the Media

Votebeat Wisconsin: Wisconsin ballot questions on election administration are too vague, officials say

Emily Lau 03.29.24

"Wisconsinites will vote Tuesday on two proposed amendments to the state constitution that could reshape how elections are run in the state — but voters, and many election officials, don’t know exactly how the broadly written proposals would be interpreted by state election officials and the courts. Election officials said the second proposal could have especially unpredictable consequences. That one seeks to ban anybody besides election officials from performing 'any task in the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum.'"

In the Media

CBS 58: What to know about the two constitutional amendments on your ballot

Emily Lau 03.27.24

"On Tuesday, voters will weigh in on two referendum questions that could impact how elections are administered in Wisconsin. One deals with private funding and another addresses who's working at the polls. Both seek to amend the state constitution. Here's what you need to know."

In the Media

Wisconsin Public Radio: Private funds and elections: What voters need to know about the April 2 referendums

Emily Lau 03.19.24

"Voters will decide two referendum questions in the April 2 primary that could affect how Wisconsin elections are run for years to come. Both referendums ask voters if they want to amend the Wisconsin Constitution. One would bar state and local governments from using private funds to conduct elections. The other would say that only election officials can conduct election-related tasks. Here’s a breakdown of what each proposal would do."

Explainers

Proposed Wisconsin Constitutional Amendments on Election Administration

Emily Lau 03.14.24

This April, Wisconsin voters will be asked to vote on two proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution. The two proposed amendments on the April 2, 2024, ballot were introduced in the wake of the 2020 election, when cities across Wisconsin—but most prominently Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Racine—accepted private grants and consultation services to assist with election administration. This Explainer breaks down the backstory, proposed text, and policy arguments regarding each amendment.

Reports

Status of Partisan Gerrymandering Claims Across the Country

Harry Black & Emily Lau 03.08.24 Last Updated 12.25.25

Every 10 years, following the federal census, states are required to redraw their congressional and legislative district maps. In the majority of states, the duty to redistrict rests with the state legislature. Because line-drawing decisions can have significant electoral consequences, the redistricting process is often highly contentious. An especially prominent concern is with partisan gerrymandering—that is, the adoption of maps that unduly advantage one political party over another. This report assesses the rise of state court litigation as one important tool for curbing partisan gerrymandering and provides a state-by-state analysis of the viability of state partisan gerrymandering claims.

Multi-State Redistricting

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