Princeton Election Consortium

This year, I'm highly focused on the preservation and improvement of democracy. (There will still be horserace coverage for longtime readers. That's coming soon!)

My fundamental motivation is this: I think there’s hope for our democracy, and I want to deploy data and science to help understand the best way forward. For many of you, an optimistic sentiment may seem out of place. After all, we have a host of problems that include erosion of individual rights, an enormous gulf between the major parties, partisan gerrymandering, loss of faith in institutions, war, and climate change. Sounds bad, right?

(cross-posted with my new Substack)

Lots of pixels have been spilled on a legal theory once considered fringe, the Independent State Legislature doctrine. This theory threatens to wreak havoc with centuries of election law. Two upcoming Supreme Court redistricting cases cite this doctrine. Both are brought by Republican-controlled legislatures, so you’d think it would be of net benefit to their party. I did the math. Like the web ads say, the answer might surprise you.

Tomorrow (Saturday) at 7:30am Eastern, tune in to CBS Saturday morning/. I’ll show Brook Silva around a place in Brooklyn where you can see three Congressional districts in the space of one city block…and the city block has no registered voters!

Tomorrow on #CBSSaturdayMorning, @Brook takes a look at all the different slivers of Brooklyn and the process of gerrymandering. pic.twitter.com/3g9odjw3by

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 22, 2022

For those on campus, you are welcome to join this discussion. Whig Senate chamber, 6-7pm. Masks optional (I’ll provide HEPA filtration, similar factor protection!)