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Voices and Votes: Exploring Democratic Performance of the Fifty States
Join us at the Renfrew Colloquium on Tuesday, September 23rd, at 12:30pm in the University of Idaho Library, where Dr. Markie McBrayer will discuss “Voices and Votes: Exploring Democratic Performance of the Fifty States.”
In conjunction with the Smithsonian exhibit “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” this talk examines the state of democracy in the United States. While much recent attention has focused on American democracy at the national level, this discussion shifts the lens to the states. How do political scientists define and measure democracy across the 50 states, and how strong—or fragile—are those institutions? By looking at key dimensions such as gerrymandering, the restrictiveness of election laws, and the degree to which citizens’ preferences shape policy, this talk explores how democracy functions at the subnational level in America.
Dr. Markie McBrayer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Idaho where she teaches American politics, public policy, and statistics. Her research focuses on local and state politics and policy, particularly social policy, housing, and gentrification in the United States. Her work has appeared in Political Research Quality, Urban Affairs Review, and Policy Studies Journal.