Election science

Election science is a field that deals with the conduct and administration of <a href="/facts/Election/oS1sLBlf">elections</a>. It is distinct from the study of <a href="/facts/Public_opinion/GfnFwKk2">public opinion</a> and election forecasting (which fall under <a href="/facts/Political_science/Gqy5EoRX">political science</a> and <a href="/facts/Psephology/r2dP2pUD">psephology</a>). Election science combines the theoretical study of <a href="/facts/Social_choice_theory/ztMqy1bM">social choice theory</a> (a branch of <a href="/facts/Math/pxTouaz4">math</a> and <a href="/facts/Welfare_economics/27rrn9UJ">welfare economics</a>) with empirical research dealing with the administration of elections (a branch of <a href="/facts/Political_science/Gqy5EoRX">political science</a>).

The study of election science can be traced back to early scientific studies of electoral systems and particularly the development of the field of <a href="/facts/Social_choice_theory/ztMqy1bM">social choice theory</a>, including the <a href="/facts/Marquis_de_Condorcet/DjXBUnIL">Marquis de Condorcet</a>'s analysis of <a href="/facts/Electoral_system/e6zvx3Bo">electoral systems</a> in the 18th century. The field came into being following the <a href="/facts/2000_United_States_presidential_election/VvudLd5N">2000 United States presidential election</a>, where several administrative and technical failures may have affected the outcome of the election. Examples of subjects where election science methods are applied include <a href="/facts/Gerrymandering/Vb7ECslS">gerrymandering</a>, <a href="/facts/Electoral_fraud/Mrud2cLA">electoral fraud</a>, <a href="/facts/Suffrage/HFFSpSCG">suffrage</a>, and <a href="/facts/Voter_registration_in_the_United_States/NSthvIy4">voter registration</a>.
There is an <a href="/facts/Academic_conference/0YAVfxe3">academic conference</a> dedicated to the study of election science and the <a href="/facts/Southern_Political_Science_Association/9LVvpGeP">Southern Political Science Association</a> has a sub-conference for the study of election science. In addition, multiple universities now offer a <a href="/facts/Bachelor_of_Science/9n3gvDf7">bachelor of science</a> in political science for a <a href="/facts/Data_science/AHYUo0Rn">data science</a> track.
The <a href="/facts/Center_for_Election_Science/5qyFauoK">Center for Election Science</a> supports academic research in the fields of election science and <a href="/facts/Social_choice_theory/ztMqy1bM">social choice theory</a>, as well as making outreach and education efforts towards the broader public.

Election science open-in-new

Election science