Policy Brief Policy Brief: Do Registration Reforms Add New Voters or Keep Californians Registered? By Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Mindy Romero, Stephanie Barton Mar 6, 2024 Automatic voter registration and streamlined address updates have brought new voters onto the rolls while helping those who move within the state stay registered—but these reforms have not improved representation. To bring more young and diverse Californians into the electorate, the state must broaden its efforts to register new voters.
event Do Registration Reforms Add New Voters or Keep Californians Registered? Mar 12, 2024 In recent years, new voter registration and voter address updates have surged—due largely to California’s new process for automatic voter registration. In a presentation of a new report, PPIC researcher Eric McGhee will outline the ways in which registration reforms have increased or maintained the voter rolls and join report co-author Mindy Romero in discussing efforts needed to improve voter engagement.
blog post How Can California Increase Voter Turnout? By Linda Strean Jun 10, 2014 Days after a California primary that may set a record for low voter turnout, election experts gathered to take stock: What happened last week and how can the state engage more Californians in elections?
Report Test-driving California’s Election Reforms By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm Sep 13, 2012 In the June 2012 primary, California tested two important electoral changes: new legislative and congressional districts drawn by an independent citizens commission and a "top two" primary system. The results suggest the reforms produced some changes—in particular, more open seats and more competition. However, there was also a great deal of continuity with recent elections: most candidates endorsed by a major party and all incumbents are advancing to the fall election and partisan outcomes were broadly in line with what might have been expected under the old primary system. Over time, the reforms may produce more radical change, but the first step on the road of reform has been a small one.
Report Equity in Voter Turnout after Pandemic Election Policy Changes By Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Mindy Romero Mar 1, 2022 To maintain voting access during the pandemic, California shifted to universal vote-by-mail for the 2020 general election, while some counties consolidated their polling places. In this new report, we examine the sometimes-contradictory impact of these reforms on turnout, especially among young voters and voters of color.
blog post Leon Panetta on Leadership and Crisis By Linda Strean Nov 4, 2015 In a wide-ranging conversation, Leon Panetta—former US defense secretary, CIA director, and longtime member of Congress—touched on global flashpoints, presidential politics, dysfunction in Washington, and electoral reform in California.
blog post Testimony: Who Votes, Who Doesn’t, and Why By Eric McGhee May 25, 2017 Californians’ participation in elections has declined, but there is now a fresh opportunity to engage them.
blog post New Term Limits Add Stability to the State Legislature By Eric McGhee Nov 12, 2018 Proposition 28, passed by California voters in 2012, relaxed term limits and has provided some stability to both chambers of the state legislature.
