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Professor Paul Gronke Spotlights Challenges Facing U.S. Election Officials

Photo by Nina Johnson ’99

September 24, 2024

Paul Gronke is a professor of political science at Reed College and the founder and director of the Elections & Voting Information Center (EVIC). Specializing in election administration, early voting, voter behavior, and public opinion, his work at EVIC focuses on bridging the gap between academic research and practical election administration, often working closely with election officials to implement data-driven solutions for improving electoral systems. Over the past two decades, Gronke has become a leading figure in election research, with his work regularly cited in academic circles and media outlets.

Last year, Gronke and his team conducted a study highlighting the growing pressures on local election offices, especially underfunding and understaffing. They presented the study to Oregon state lawmakers in November 2023​.

In recent months, Gronke and research from the EVIC have been regularly featured in media coverage, particularly in stories about the challenges facing election officials, such as staffing shortages and increased workloads as more states adopt early and mail-in voting: 


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