The ability to vote stands at the core of American democracy. Yet, much is to be done to understand how the U.S. voting system works. For improvements to be made, society must comprehend factors that affect voting, from behavior to technology. Science has a vital role in strengthening the voting system, and AAAS has made efforts to encourage more research on the ways by which America decides.
Research Database on the U.S. Voting System and Voting Technology
AAAS has created a searchable online database of research articles to inform election officials, researchers, and other workers on election reform issues.
[2006] Revisiting the U.S. Voting System: A Research Inventory
AAAS convened an invitational workshop on November 27-28, 2006 to highlight research and to recommend how to acquire the additional knowledge needed in order to inform election reform generally, as well as increase voter understanding, access, and confidence in the system.
[2005] AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, Statement on the Importance of Research on the U.S. Voting System
Voting is at once a highly personal yet broadly social act that carries great significance in American life. It is a basic individual right in democratic societies, and is essential for conferring legitimacy upon those elected by voters to lead the country. It is both ironic and disturbing, therefore, that so little is known about the interaction between American citizens and the voting system in the United States.
[2004] Making Each Vote Count: A Research Agenda for Electronic Voting
In the 2000 presidential election, the inherent weaknesses of our states’ systems of voting were revealed in dramatic fashion. Due to an unprecedented occurrence, it was impossible to determine for many weeks the outcome of the presidential voting in the State of Florida and, therefore, to declare a winner in the election of a new President of the United States.