Voting in America 2012

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Article Read time:
Projects: Election Initiatives
Voting in America 2012

On Monday, December 10, and Tuesday, December 11, 2012, The Pew Charitable Trusts brought together approximately 200 leaders from the election administration field—election officials, academics, media, advocates, and tech experts—to take a look back at this election, and a look forward to policy reform in the coming years.  

The Voting in America event included notable attendees from all over the country talking about the most pressing issues in election administration.

Watch the event on C-SPAN 3, and view the Twitter discussion by searching the hashtag #VIA2012. 

Listen to the full audio of the panel discussions and view the PowerPoint presentations below.

Panel Discussion: Looking Back at 2012 

What were the biggest takeaways from the 2012 election? Pew’s Michael Caudell-Feagan moderated a panel featuring Carroll Doherty, the Associate Director of the Pew Research Center for the People & Press and Charles Stewart III, Professor of Political Science at MIT.

Carroll Doherty began his presentation at 2:08. Download PowerPoint.

Charles Stewart began his presentation at 15:16. Download PowerPoint.

Panel Discussion: E-lections: Technology, Social Media, and Election Administration 

The 2012 election could easily be coined the first “twitter election.” Doug Chapin, Director of the Program for Excellence in Election Administration at the University of Minnesota moderated a panel on the importance of social media and technology in this past election. Panelists included Google’s Ginny Hunt, Microsoft’s Kim Nelson, Facebook’s Adam Conner, and Twitter’s Mindy Finn.  

Panel Discussion: Long Lines and High Enthusiasm 

Long lines were one of the most talked about issues on Election Day. What caused them and what can we do to alleviate them? CQ Roll Call writer Eliza Newlin Carney moderated a lunch panel featuring Obama for America Field Director Jeremy Bird, Vlytics owner Scott Tranter, and Eric Marshall, Manager of Legal Mobilization, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Panel Discussion: Ensuring Integrity and Access: Voter ID in 2012 and Beyond 

How did voter ID laws impact the 2012 election? New York Times reporter Adam Liptak moderated a panel discussion on issues ranging from voter ID laws, voter fraud, and what this means for American voters. The panel featured Ohio Secretary of State John Husted, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, and Indiana University Law Professor Michael J. Pitts.

Mike Pitts presented with a PowerPoint presentation at 17:21.

Panel Discussion: Does Voter Registration Need an Upgrade?

Panelists discuss how we can harness the power of technology to improve voter registration. The panel was moderated by Pew’s John Lindback and featured President of Rock the Vote Heather Smith, Virginia Secretary of Elections Don Palmer, and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller.

Panel Discussion: Building a Baseline: The Election Performance Index and the Use of Data 

Pew’s Zach Markovits previews the election performance index tool to be released next year. The panel, moderated by Yale Law Professor Heather Gerken, focused on the importance of data in election administration. Panelists also included Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor Charles Stewart III, Michigan Elections Director Chris Thomas, and University of Texas Adjunct Professor and fellow Ray Martinez.

Panel Discussion: Outgoing Secretaries of State Carnahan and Reed: Unplugged 

Secretaries of State Robin Carnahan of Missouri and Sam Reed of Washington had a frank discussion of elections in their states. The panel was moderated by Pew’s David Becker.

Other powerpoint presentations given throughout the conference include:

  • Kevin Kennedy, Director and General Counsel, Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, discusses election costs in Wisconsin. Download PowerPoint.
  • Tammy Patrick, Federal Compliance Officer, Maricopa County, Arizona, gives an overview about cost savings related to online voter registration. Download PowerPoint.
  • Heather Smith, President, Rock the Vote, discusses lessons in online voter registration technologies. Download PowerPoint.
America’s Overdose Crisis
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Quick View
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
RELATED
Tags
Election administration
Projects
Election Initiatives
Places
United States

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

A presentation being given by a businesswoman to a group of participants at a business conference.

Fact Sheet

April 12, 2024 Four Plan Features Can Boost 'Retirement Readiness'
An illustration of a couple holding hands walking away from an outline of houses behind them

Podcast

March 22, 2024 Pathways to Homeownership: Housing in America
A landscape with mountains and clouds. BLM Rule Puts Conservation, Other Land Uses on Equal Footing

MORE FROM PEW

A presentation being given by a businesswoman to a group of participants at a business conference. Four Plan Features Can Boost 'Retirement Readiness'
A large group of people in formal or traditional attire stands together on a stage, with a digital background depicting marine life and the large text “WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.” WTO Needs to Redouble Its Effort on Fishing Subsidies
A man in a winter hat and sunglasses kneels on a rocky shoreline in front of a campfire, holding a metal mug with gloved hands. Behind him, in the water, a motorboat is moored to the shore. Cliffs rise on both sides of the water. Why Newfoundland’s South Coast Fjords Are Sacred
An illustration of a couple holding hands walking away from an outline of houses behind them Pathways to Homeownership: Housing in America
Composite image of modern city network communication concept

Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

Sign up for our four-week email course on Broadband Basics
Quick View

How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?

Pills illustration
Pills illustration

What Is Antibiotic Resistance—and How Can We Fight It?

Sign up for our four-week email series The Race Against Resistance.
Quick View
Pills illustration

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.