
The Voting Booth
AEI’s John Fortier and EAC Commissioner Don Palmer pull back the curtain of the Voting Booth to reveal the inner workings of elections. They are joined by Secretaries of State, local election officials, scholars, and lawyers to examine the issues leading the 2024 elections.
Latest episodes

Jul 1, 2025 • 33min
Live from the 9th Annual Summer Conference on Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) (with Trey Hood)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Trey Hood, Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia and Director of the University of Georgia’s SPIA Survey Research Center.

Jun 17, 2025 • 46min
The Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP), Explained (with Jay Phelps)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Jay Phelps, Director of the Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program at the United States Election Assistance Commission.

Jun 3, 2025 • 52min
The Meaning of "Election Day" (with Russ Nobile)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Russ Nobile, Senior Attorney at Judicial Watch.

May 20, 2025 • 54min
California Votin' (with Dean C. Logan)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Dean C. Logan, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk of Los Angeles (CA) County.

May 6, 2025 • 38min
A Conversation with Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Tre Hargett, Tennessee's Secretary of State.

Apr 15, 2025 • 49min
Developing and Testing Election Technology (with Jared Marcotte)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Jared Marcotte, President of The Turnout.

Feb 4, 2025 • 41min
What Can States Do to Improve Voter Lists? (with Michael Watson)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Michael Watson, Secretary of State of Mississippi and incoming president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

Jan 22, 2025 • 33min
Priorities for Election Administration Reform (with Brad Raffensperger)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Brad Raffensperger, Secretary of State of Georgia.Show Notes:Secretary Raffensperger Announces the “Georgia Plan” for Federal Election Reform

Dec 17, 2024 • 36min
The Electoral College and the Electoral Count Reform Act (with Richard H. Pildes)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Richard H. Pildes, Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law.

Nov 19, 2024 • 40min
How Election Rules Affect Who Wins (with Eitan Hersh)
Co-hosts John Fortier and Don Palmer are joined by Eitan Hersh, Professor of Political Science at Tufts University.Materials Discussed:"How Election Rules Affect Who Wins""How Did Absentee Voting Affect the 2020 U.S. Election?"