Ballot Lab

Jurisdictions tend to adopt voting reforms based on advocacy and partisan preference. This can lead to mistakes that are costly to reverse and often accepted as "good enough." Ballot Lab takes the guesswork out of election reform by producing independent, experimental research on voting methods so policy is guided by evidence.

Our experimental study plans are preregistered. They're peer-reviewed, published, and locked in before data is collected. Every study receives independent review at both the design and write-up stages. We openly share our data, code, and methods for replication and critique. We also include readable reports for key stakeholder groups to make critical decisions on reform. All of our work carries Creative Commons licensing.

Our research is guided by an advisory board of leading scholars in social choice theory, game theory, and experimental economics. Every research question must clear three tests:
(1) It would change a real decision; (2); others aren't working on it, and (3) it meaningfully informs policy. Current priorities include new metrics for mapping proportionality and voter utility, assessments of live ballot initiatives for reform, model research protocols with preregistration, and public access to high-impact research that sits behind paywalls.

Your donation keeps this research independent. Unrestricted support lets us choose questions by impact and neglectedness. Feel free to check out our site for more information, and thank you ahead of time for supporting our work!