American citizens and policy makers alike are concerned about the election process in our nation, and this unease has been growing in recent years. Loopholes in earlier campaign-finance reform efforts have meant that big-money donors were exerting hefty political influence. Also, controversies about voter rolls and new voting technologies have shaken the voters’ faith in the security of their ballots.

The Pew Center on the States oversees programs that promote solutions to improve the elections process. These are part of our broader effort to study and promote nonpartisan policies that address pressing and emerging problems affecting the American public.

Our experts partner with election officials and academics to conduct research and advance fact-based solutions to these compelling issues. To deliver answers where they are needed the most, Pew targets areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact. 

Our election efforts include:

• Campaign finance reform—joining with a number of partners since the mid-1990s to raise greater awareness about the influence of large donors in the American political process.
• electionline.org—collecting data, tracking election reform efforts across the country, and providing critical analysis on the election process.
• Make Voting Work (a project of the Pew Center on the States)—developing and sharing information about voting reforms and initiatives, and joining with many other key groups to promote election reform efforts.