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.

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.

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.

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.

At a time when American elections are being tested in new and complex ways, it's more important than ever to bridge the gap between those who run elections and those who study them. The Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections at UC San Diego brings together election administrators and researchers from across the country. These are people who don't always end up in the same room — but should.

In The Election Trust Research Podcast, we're sharing conversations with some of the participants in our convenings. You'll hear from election administrators, political scientists, nonprofit leaders — people from across the political spectrum working to improve elections and increase public trust. Together, they offer a nuanced look at the state of our democratic systems, and opportunities for strengthening them.

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections at UC San Diego or any affiliated institutions.