Rob W. Glover

Examines the role of local election officials (LEO) as implementers of state election reforms. Derives that data comes from a survey of municipal clerks in Maine conducted after the 2018 general election, as well as interviews with many local officials, garnering their assessments of ranked choice voting (RCV).

Argues that state politics represents a fruitful, yet often neglected, space for the development of political leadership skills. Presents ENACT as a pedagogical model for empowering students, enhancing their capacity or political leadership. Remains attuned to localized variation in the policymaking environment and state political culture.

Findings presented here provide preliminary evidence that ENACT course experiences have powerful impacts on students when compared alongside non-experiential courses. Engages students directly in state legislative processes. Yields promising results with higher reported levels of political engagement and political efficacy, and greater likelihood to engage in civic action.

Analyzes the tension between calls for greater democratic inclusion and the need to, at some point, establish boundaries as to who partakes in the democratic conversation. Develops a conceptual framework for democratic participation where we recognize the necessity of exclusion in political life, but periodically subject these boundaries to democratic contestation.

Examines the 2006 pro-immigrant protests in the United States as an important moment for American democracy. Argues that such protests constitute a “moment of opportunity” which enables us to think about political citizenship in more expansive (and potentially less violent and exclusionary) ways.