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From cutting-edge policy research to illuminating analysis, we bring a racial equity lens to the most pressing issues facing our country. For our latest blog posts and media updates, visit our Media page.

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Cover of 'Solving the Affordability Crisis' by People's Action and Dēmos: a rising staircase of icons representing groceries, health care, energy, housing, and child care, each topped with dollar bills."

Solving the Affordability Crisis

The affordability crisis is the result of policy choices — and different choices can reverse it. This report from Dēmos and People's Action traces why housing, utilities, food, health care, and child care have become unaffordable, and five structural solutions for building a people-powered, racially just economy.

Policy Briefs
Demos
People's Action
A Black care worker in scrubs reviews a clipboard with an older Black woman seated on a couch. In the background, composite images show caregivers working with children and supporting elderly adults, overlaid with illustrated icons representing justice, economic opportunity, and care.

Empowering Care Workers: The Key to a Better Care Economy

Good care jobs are the foundation of a good care economy. Empowering care workers through better pay, stronger protections, and collective voice would improve care quality, reduce workforce shortages, and advance racial and economic equity.

Policy Briefs
Nick Wertsch
Row of empty voting booths in a school gym

Missing Voters: The Real Threat to Alabama's Democracy

More than 815,000 Alabamians are missing from the electoral process. In this report, Stand Up Mobile, Dēmos, and Southern Coalition for Social Justice examine who's missing, why, and what Alabama must do to fix it.

Research
Beverly Cooper
Dustin Tyler Broughton
Keshia Morris Desir
Jens Manuel Krogstad
Lucy Krueger
Sarah Ovaska

An Analysis of Voter Fraud in The United States: Adapted from the 2003 Report, Securing The Vote

Since the 2000 election, a historic effort has been underway in the United States to strengthen voting systems across all 50 states and to address obstacles to broader electoral participation. At both the federal and state levels, however, efforts to advance a reform agenda have been frequently

Research
Lorraine Minnite
David Callahan

Anatomy of a Successful Campaign for Election Day Registration in Iowa

With the governor Chet Culver's pen stroke, Iowa became the eighth state in the nation to extend the franchise to otherwise eligible citizens who had not yet registered to vote at the close of voter registration deadlines. This report recounts the successful implementation of Election Day
Research
Steven Carbó

By a Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class

Developed in collaboration with the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University, By a Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class looks at the financial security of the middle class using the innovative Middle Class Security Index, rating household stability across five
Research
Tamara Draut
Jennifer Wheary
Thomas M. Shapiro

A Fallible "Fail-Safe": An Analysis of Provisional Balloting Problems in the 2006 Election

A Fallible 'Fail-Safe' provides a snapshot of provisional balloting problems experienced by voters across the nation in November 2006, as reported by Election Protection volunteers. While provisional ballots may comprise only a fraction of the national vote, as this report shows, they determined the
Research
Scott Novakowski

Election Day Registration: A Ground Level View

Results of a telephone survey of local election officials in Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Research
Steven Carbó
Stuart Comstock-Gay
Regina M. Eaton

Voters Win with Election Day Registration: Election Day Registration Was Successful in Several States During the 2006 Mid-term Elections

Election Day Registration (EDR), sometimes called “same day registration” (SDR), allows eligible voters to register and cast a ballot on Election Day. Nine states currently have EDR or SDR laws. Maine, Minnesota and Wisconsin adopted EDR in the 1970s. Idaho, New Hampshire and Wyoming enacted
Policy Briefs

Miles Rapoport's Testimony on Election Day Voter Registration

Demos president Miles Rapoport testifies before the U.S. House Administration Sub-Committee on Elections regarding Election Day Registration and provisional voting.
Testimony and Public Comment
Miles Rapoport

Election Day Voter Registration: Testimony of Miles Rapoport

Demos President Miles Rapoport delivers testimony on EDR before the U.S. House Administration Sub-committee on Elections, November 9, 2007                          
Testimony and Public Comment
Miles Rapoport

Borrowing to Make Ends Meet: The Rapid Growth of Credit Card Debt in America

Americans carry over $800 Billion in credit card debt. Using most recent data from the Federal Reserve Board's Survey of Consumer Finances, Borrowing to Make Ends Meet exposes this and other disturbing trends in American families’ debts and financial assets. The report breaks down debt and asset
Research
Jose Garcia

Same Day Voter Registration in North Carolina

We have analyzed the likely impact on voter turnout should California adopt Election Day Registration (EDR). The availability of EDR procedures should give voters who have not previously registered or need to update their information the opportunity to vote. Consistent with existing research on the
Policy Briefs
Jonathan Nagler