Miss our first Election Matters event of 2026? Watch “The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting” on YouTube to hear legal and political experts break down the rise of mid-decade redistricting and what it could mean for elections across the country. 🔗 youtu.be/amNdLTIglRY

🚨Join us for a panel on the evolving politics of Gen Z🚨 Experts will discuss rising youth participation, changing attitudes toward parties and institutions, and what these shifts mean for the future of American politics. Learn more and register here: go.wisc.edu/5sgx2j

The April Wisconsin Supreme Court race is drawing less national attention than last year’s contest—but it still carries major stakes. ERC Director @bcburden.bsky.social joined WMTV 15 News to discuss the race and new polling showing many voters still undecided. Watch here: tinyurl.com/yc64jaeb

Corrected link to register: www.eventbrite.com/e/election-m...

Can states redraw maps in the middle of the decade — and what does that mean for democracy? Join us and the State Democracy Research Initiative on March 6 (3–4:15pm CT) for Election Matters 2026: The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting. 🔗 Register: www.eventbrite.com/.../election....

What would it mean to nationalize U.S. elections? ERC Director @bcburden.bsky.social weighs in for @usnews.com, outlining the constitutional framework, the federal role in election law, and the potential risks of centralized control. Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/4ueacy5m

How does power change what legislators do? New research from ERC affiliate Ellie Powell and coauthors shows that as lawmakers gain power, they shift toward policy, while maintaining their level of constituent service as a result of greater capacity. 🔗https://tinyurl.com/a988rhdh

Using ad tracking and turnout records new research from ERC affiliates Ross Dahlke and Young Mie Kim shows that microtargeted voter suppression ads decreased turnout in 2016, with the largest effects among minority voters in battleground states. 🔗https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2519944123

Do voting access reforms change how people feel about government? ERC affiliate Andrew Trexler and coauthors use a policy feedback framework to show that reforms like expanded mail voting rarely shifts political efficacy or trust overall. Full study ➡️https://tinyurl.com/mrx5ehwm

Back in October the Elections Research Center and the @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social hosted an expert panel on the tensions between free speech and campaign finance regulation. Check out our YouTube page for the full recording of this as well as many other ERC events! 🔗https://tinyurl.com/5m4jmvjn

Could Wisconsin run new congressional maps in 2026? Both ERC Director Barry and State Democracy Research Initiative co-director Rob Yablon spoke with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to explain the legal mechanics, timing issues, and why this fight could matter beyond Wisconsin. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4sne3spp

How do we teach students to disagree productively? A new UW–Madison feature spotlights ERC affiliate Amber Wichowsky’s course, Advancing Public Policy in a Divided America and how students can learn to practice disagreement productively. 🔗 news.wisc.edu/teaching-stu...