The Election Resilience Lab is a hub for research to identify and demonstrate what works to strengthen the people and workplaces of democracy.
Our research is led by election officials and workforce development specialists as a part of the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement’s commitment to inclusive consensus.
Resilient elections begin with a resilient workforce.
Election officials across the country are working long hours under challenging working conditions to meet ever-rising demands. Exhaustion and burnout pose risks to the performance of the election system.
We can reduce burnout among election professionals.
Applied research, drawing on lessons from other fields, can help alleviate the strain and improve performance. The Election Resilience Lab brings together researchers, workforce development specialists and former election officials to:
- test practical solutions to common staffing challenges
- measure results to demonstrate what’s working and help target areas for improvement
- build an evidence base to support improvements in management practices, policy, and resource allocation
Our Leadership
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Alysoun McLaughlin Director, Election Resilience Lab alysoun [at] umd.edu |
Lynn Handy Founder, Election Talent Partners lhandy [at] umd.edu |
Strengthening the Elections Workforce
Working closely with partners in election offices and other government agencies, nonprofits, as well as scholars from across disciplines, public sector recruitment experts, and philanthropy, CDCE is using a variety of research methods to understand how we can strengthen the elections workforce and build trust in elections.
Learn More About Strengthening the Elections Workforce
Election Official Needs/Interest Form
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Election offices across the country are facing acute workforce challenges — from insufficient funding and outdated job classifications to difficulty recruiting and retaining skilled staff. These pressures affect not only daily operations but also the long-term resilience of our election system.
Election Talent Partners is working with the Election Resilience Lab at the University of Maryland to conduct research and develop tools to support you in addressing these challenges. You can help us by completing this short questionnaire to highlight the needs of your office, surface solutions, and shape resources to directly support election offices like yours.
