By Elizabeth C. Matto The 2020 election will be one like we’ve never seen in the United States. As the nation grapples with a public health emergency, Election Day practices will be upended and confusion promises to follow. Just when they were poised to make a dramatic impact on electoral outcomes, the participation of college…
By Josh Franco Each of us has a community we call home, and every community across the United States is in a congressional district. Congressional districts are political-geographic units, and each is represented by one member of Congress who is elected by the voters residing in the district every two years. Throughout the country, there…
By Stephanie King In preparing for the 2020 general election, many political science faculty and civic educators are likely starting the year by educating college students about the electoral college, the importance of engaging in a presidential election and attending to down ballot races, and the voter registration process. Given COVID-19 and the transition to…
By Alison Rios Millett McCartney As we start the Fall 2020 semester, many of us are left wondering – what can we actually do? With an unexpected transition to virtual instruction this fall, protests spurring an evaluation of the deep impacts of persistent systemic racism in many countries, serious institutional budget cuts, more students with…
By Jared McDonald In the run-up to seemingly every election, journalists discuss whether this will be the year in which young people turn out to vote. Although there is some optimism that the increase in protest activism in 2020 among young Americans may be a harbinger of a youth voting surge, it is no secret…
By Alice Malmberg Felon disenfranchisement laws are one of the final remaining formal barriers to voting rights in the United States, and the number of citizens these restrictions affect continues to grow. In 1976, during the advent of the era of mass incarceration, there were an estimated 1.17 million disenfranchised felons nationwide. Currently, over 6…
By Andrew J. Seligsohn and Emily Bottie The opportunity for every American to vote in a free and fair election is at risk. In a typical year, 56% of poll workers (the people who staff polling places on election day) are over the age of 60. Because of COVID-19, however, these older Americans who carry…
By Sabrina Medler As a young voter, and recent Political Science graduate from Stanford University, I understand the kinds of obstacles that impact students’ ability to vote. My goal is to help boost the youth vote in this monumental election, particularly as an Organizing Intern for the Faculty Network for Student Voting Rights. Though I’ve…
By Christopher Towler As the 2020 presidential election approaches, African American voters will play a decisive role in determining the election for president and state representatives. The power of Black voters was on full display during the primary season, and many attributed Joe Biden’s come-from-behind Democratic Party nomination victory to Black support in South Carolina….
Dimitar Gueorguiev, Syracuse University; Xiaobo Lü, University of Texas at Austin; Kerry Ratigan, Amherst College; Meg Rithmire, Harvard University; Rory Truex, Princeton University A longer version of the following statement is available on ChinaFile On June 30, 2020, the Chinese National People’s Congress passed the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL). The law empowers government…