In a democracy, registering to vote is the first step in making your voice heard. The next is learning about the issues – local, state and national – so you can make informed choices as you complete your ballot. But sorting through the volume of information in the media, posted online and spread through word-of-mouth can be daunting. Determining what is true and what is not adds another layer of complexity.
Fortunately, universities, especially this one, are filled with curious people who like to question, research, verify and communicate information. 91̽»¨faculty have deep expertise in everything from public policy to the history of elections, to legislative process and constitutional law, to U.S. foreign policy – not to mention news coverage, social media and the spread of misinformation.
If you’re looking for accurate information on democracy and elections, you are at the right place.
91̽»¨voting resources
- , a coalition of students, staff, faculty, community members, and civic leaders, are working to increaseÌýstudent voting ratesÌýand build an evenÌýstronger culture of civic and democratic engagement at the 91̽»¨.
- (CELE) provides online voting resources for students and others.
- Ìýis a nationwide effort involving more than 850 colleges and universities – including the UW’s Seattle and Bothell campuses – to increase nonpartisan student civic learning, political engagement, andÌývoter participation.
- Ìýhelps students navigate election-related issues including voter registration and self-care.
- offers resources during the election season to deal with feelings of loneliness, isolation and disconnect from peers.
- is packed with news sources, the latest on voting rights and ways to evaluate information.
- includes guidance for instructors who want to encourage their students to vote.
- is a 2024 U.S. elections rapid research blog by the .
Democracy in Focus lecture series
Every Tuesday leading up to the election on Nov. 5, 91̽»¨faculty members shared their expertise through a public lecture on an election-related topic. The series was presented by the Office of the Provost, in partnership with the College of Arts & Sciences, iSchool, School of Law, and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Links to video recordings are posted below.
Polarization, Persuasion, and Talking Across Difference
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Presenter: , Political Science.
Organized by the College of Arts & Sciences Social Sciences Division
Protecting Information Integrity: Election Rumor Research at the 91̽»¨Center for an Informed Public
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Presenters: ,Ìý, , and from the Information School’s .
Learn about election rumoring through , the 2024 U.S. elections rapid research blog by the .
Organized by the Information School
Zooming Out: 2024 Elections in Historical, Social, and Cultural Contexts
Tuesday, Oct. 15
Presenters: , History; , Jackson School of International Studies; and , Jackson School of International Studies
Organized by the College of Arts & Sciences Social Sciences Division
Presidential Power
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Presenters: , , , and , Constitutional Law
Organized by the School of Law
Who Votes and Why Voting Matters
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Presenters:Ìý, Political Science, and 91̽»¨voices from across the three campuses.
Organized by the College of Arts & Sciences Social Sciences Division and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
Trust on the Ballot: Voting in Washington
Thursday, Nov. 7
Presenters: Current and former Secretaries of State and .
Three Washington Secretaries of State discussed the history and evolution of voting in our state—from the various systems in place to the complex and polarized climate we now operate in.
Organized by the College of Arts & Sciences and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
91̽»¨Graduate School’s Public Lecture Series
This autumn, the 91̽»¨Graduate School’s public lectures will address election-related topics such as how to have conversations during difficult times and the state of American democracy. In January, 91̽»¨Political Science Professor Megan Ming Francis will assess the election outcome, and Grammy award-winning rock band Quetzal will give an inauguration day performance.
More events and lectures
Recorded
- Start Something: AI and Political Misinformation. Computer scientist Oren Etzioni and tech reporter Katherine Long talk about AI and political misinformation, and his nonprofit TrueMedia.org, which uses AI to identify deepfakes. Sponsored by .
Past
- Past, Present and Future Demographic Diversity in the U.S. and Washington, 2024 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture, Thursday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., Alder Hall, presented by , director of the . Sponsored by the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.
- , noon to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the . Sponsored by
Free expression and dialogue
- empowers 91̽»¨students with the tools and mindsets to engage in skilled and productive dialogue across differences.
- is an interdisciplinary team of faculty, research scientists, graduate students, post-docs and research fellows whose goals are to resist strategic misinformation, promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse.
- The UW’s approaches and policies on freedom of expression, including academic rights, use of University facilities, student conduct, political activity and religious activity.