Thessalia Merivaki

Argues that relying on "close to home" sources—local election offices, local or regional TV stations, and print publications—increases the chances voters are exposed to accurate information about how to vote, which translates into higher confidence in ballot accuracy.

Focuses on the more than 8,000 local elections administrators in counties, municipalities, and townships who largely manage the key administrative processes of elections, work with campaigns and candidates, design voting materials and choose voting equipment, staff Early and Election Day polling locations, and communicate with and educate voters.

Introduces a dynamic dataset of all communications by state election officials (EOs) on social media during the 2022 election cycle and develops metrics to assess the effectiveness of trust-building strategies on voter confidence.

Assesses the educative effects of different modes of election official voter education on completing the voter registration process.

Assesses whether voters who live in states where state election officials (EOs) invested in voter education have higher levels of confidence in vote counting. Argues state investment in voter education strengthens voter confidence by improving voter experiences and creating a culture of voter education, both of which facilitate transparency in elections.

Describes the 2016 general election in Florida.

Investigates the rejection rates of voter registration applications submitted in Florida during the 2012 election cycle. Analyzing monthly voter registration statistics across Florida’s 67 counties, this study finds that institutional and seasonal factors affect the successful processing of voter registration applications

Suggests that voter registration maintenance issues in a county affect the number of provisional ballots cast and rejected. Finds that counties with greater numbers of voters who register after the registration cutoff date prior to a general election (and who are thus ineligible to vote) tend to have greater numbers of provisional ballots cast and rejected.

Examines the 2008 American National Election Panel Study and finds that primary voters are more ideologically extreme than general election voters, but there is little difference between voters in closed and open primary states. Suggests primary type has little effect on the ideological composition of the electorate because modern nomination contests are low turnout elections that draw only the most politically interested.

Depicts ideas that are core to the U.S. system of governance.