In The Know

The Elections Performance Index (EPI) can provide you and your team with valuable insights about voter behavior and your state’s performance on Election Day. Below, you’ll learn about what the EPI is and how you can use it to your advantage. 

What’s the Elections Performance Index (EPI)?

The EPI is a data-driven assessment tool developed by the Pew Charitable Trusts. It provides a way to evaluate the performance of election systems across the United States. Specifically, the EPI’s data points offer a valuable view into the quality of our electoral process on a state-by-state basis. 

Whereas many indexes focus on the amount of people who voted, the EPI gauges the quality of the voting process itself. It examines factors like voter registration, turnout, the availability of online tools, and the accuracy of voter lists. 

By looking at these and other indicators, the EPI gives a clear picture of where states excel and how they can improve to promote better participation in the electoral process. 

Why Does the EPI Matter?

Elections must be transparent and efficient, lest voter participation suffer. Ensuring that those qualities are met, the EPI helps shine a light on the efficacy of election administration and ensures that every eligible voter has a reasonable opportunity to participate in the democratic process. 

For voters, the EPI provides much-needed transparency, helping them understand how their state performs in critical areas. If you are an advocate, campaign official, or policymaker, the EPI can help you identify room for improvement so you can make the electoral process more accessible and fair for everyone involved.

Furthermore, accountability represents one of the most critical components of our democracy. Voters need to have confidence in the security and accuracy of election results while also being provided with ample opportunity to cast a ballot. 

Key Components of the Elections Performance Index

The EPI focuses on the following areas:

Registration Rates

The EPI looks at the percentage of eligible voters who are registered to cast a ballot. A higher registration rate indicates that your state has effectively connected with eligible citizens and made it easy for them to register. 

Turnout

Voter turnout measures the percentage of registered voters who actually cast a ballot. It is a critical metric because high turnout often reflects an efficient electoral system that engages and motivates citizens to participate. Low participation can indicate a more serious problem with your registration process. 

Wait Time

Long wait times can be a deterrent to voting; voters simply don’t want to spend all day in line to cast a ballot. By tracking the average amount of time constituents spend at polling places, the EPI helps you understand whether current processes are accommodating to voters. 

Provisional Ballot Usage

Provisional ballots are used when a person’s eligibility is called into question. The EPI tracks how often these ballots are used and whether they are ultimately counted. 

Online Tools for Voters

The availability and effectiveness of online tools, such as voter registration portals and polling place locators, are also key components of the EPI. States that provide robust online resources make it easier for voters to participate in the electoral process. 

Post-Election Audits

Lastly, after an election, the EPI evaluates whether states have strong audit procedures in place to verify the integrity of the process. 

How to Use the EPI

With the abundance of data points that the EPI provides, it’s easy to get lost in the numbers. On that note, here are some practical ways you can cut through the noise and focus on details that actually matter:

Evaluate How Your State Stacks Up

Start by analyzing how your state compares to other jurisdictions. Look at metric-by-metric rankings to determine exactly where your state does well, as well as any shortcomings it may have. The information you find can help you understand the weaknesses of your state’s election system. 

Identify Areas for Improvement

Next, identify areas that need to get better. For example, if your state has some of the longest wait times in the nation, it’s time to reevaluate check-in processes at polling places. You should also consider how many polling locations the state offers per person and ensure that these places are properly distributed. 

Advocate for Change

Obtaining quantifiable data from the EPI can help you promote change. You can propose legislation or support bills that other elected officials have introduced and back up your position with various metrics, such as your state’s ranking within the index and what other jurisdictions are doing to provide a better voter experience. 

Educate Your Constituents

After everything is said and done, you’ll want to share what you’ve learned from the EPI with your constituents and community members. The more people understand how their state’s election system performs, the higher the pressure will be to maintain adequate standards and pursue necessary improvements. 

Supplement EPI Insights With Aristotle

The EPI can be a great tool for measuring and evaluating your state’s performance during the electoral process. However, it does not provide the solution to the entire puzzle. After you’ve got a feel for what your state does well and how it can get better, you’ll need other data insights to affect meaningful change.

Enter Aristotle, a leader in political data. We provide a wealth of technological tools and access to millions of meticulously maintained voter files. Our solutions are designed to inform your outreach efforts and help you connect with your ideal audience. Schedule a demo of Aristotle today to learn more.