Election Trust Research Podcast Episodes

Trailers

Trailer for The Election Trust Research Podcast | 01:28

The trailer introduces The Election Trust Research Podcast, which features a series of conversations with political scientists and election administrators working to increase public trust in election administration.

Listen to the trailer.

Episodes

Episode 1 | Charles Stewart III on Evidence-based Reform | 21:47

A pioneer in the field of election administration research, Charles Stewart III reflects on how data-driven insights can help election officials reduce voting barriers and make smarter use of limited resources. He explains why mistrust has become the central challenge facing U.S. elections today — and what it takes to build ethical, productive partnerships between scholars and practitioners.

Listen to episode 1.

Episode 2 | Thad Kousser on Making Election Trust Stick | 17:29

Co-director of UC San Diego’s Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections, Thad Kousser explains why trust in U.S. elections surged after 2024 — and why that confidence may be fragile. He describes how large-scale, coordinated research and practical communication tools can help election officials counter misinformation, reduce administrative burden, and prevent policymakers from chasing problems that don’t actually exist.

Listen to episode 2.

Episode 3 | Amelia Powers Gardner on Running Elections in the Age of Denial | 16:41

A Utah County commissioner and former county clerk, Amelia Powers Gardner recounts how she rebuilt a broken local election system — only to watch an election denier replace her and create new risks for voters. She explains why transparency, process engineering, and targeted communication with lawmakers and skeptical communities are now essential to protecting both election integrity and public trust.

Listen to episode 3.

Episode 4 | Lauren Prather on Election Monitoring and Public Trust | 11:50

A comparative politics scholar at UC San Diego, Lauren Prather draws on research from Tunisia, Georgia, and the United States to explain how different kinds of election monitors shape public confidence in democratic outcomes. She breaks down why nonpartisan observers build more trust than party poll watchers — and how that evidence can be used to push for more transparent election laws in the U.S.

Listen to episode 4.