We undertake various projects at The Turnout, including exciting work building community in the election science space. Over the past few years, our team has supported the work of the Engineering for Democracy Institute (EDI) (formerly URI VOTES) at the University of Rhode Island (URI). Recently, The Turnout moderated three workshops for EDI’s STEM for Elections Network.

EDI was founded in 2017 as an interdisciplinary group of political scientists, architects, and engineers who explore the role of using engineering to sustain democracy. Led by Director Gretchen A. Macht, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering at URI, who also directs the Sustainable Innovative Solutions (SIS) Lab, EDI performs extensive data analysis, simulation, and allocation resource modeling to overcome current and future obstacles in the voting and election processes. In preparation for the 2024 election, EDI has been coordinating with state and county election offices across the US to assess voting processes, provide recommendations and facility diagrams, identify resource needs, and collaborate with organizations to exchange expertise and solve election planning challenges nationwide.

To emphasize the need for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in elections, the EDI formed the STEM for Elections Network to create a community of like-minded people in engineering, science, mathematics, and technology who want to solve election-related issues and improve our country’s election system. In September, EDI hosted an in-person STEM for Elections Network Workshop at the Advancing Systems & Practice through Innovation, Research & Education (ASPIRE) meeting during the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Last month, EDI also hosted two virtual STEM for Elections Network Workshops to introduce STEM professionals to the field of elections.

These inaugural STEM for Elections Network workshops involved over a dozen election experts, researchers, and practitioners who presented to interested STEM researchers on various topics. Each workshop began with an overview of how to work with election officials. Next, a panel of election experts, including nonprofit leaders and election officials, discussed their experience working with researchers and described their current challenges. After that, a panel of election researchers, some from political science, psychology, engineering, and computer science, introduced participants to their work in the field and discussed opportunities for people with STEM backgrounds to get involved in elections.

Through interactive sessions, presenters explained election science, the vision for the field over the next few decades, and how to collaborate with election officials on research projects. Participants asked questions and shared their perspectives on how their skills could help solve some of democracy’s biggest challenges. Participants asked how their skills could be used to support election officials.

We’re thrilled at the success of these EDI events and look forward to sharing more about EDI’s work—and The Turnout’s support of it—soon. EDI plans to host a STEM for Elections Network seminar in late February to delve deeper into the election knowledge STEM researchers need to engage with election officials. If you want to learn more about the STEM for Elections Network and potentially get involved, please join the STEM for Elections mailing list, follow EDI on Instagram and X, visit EDI’s website, or get in touch by email at edi@etal.uri.edu.