Elections Administration

Nothing is more important to a democracy than the integrity of the voting process. This section provides data on issues related to information on, accessibility to, and accuracy of the voting process at the national level.
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Disability or illness-related voting problems: What percentage of people did not cast a ballot due to an illness or disability (own or family’s)? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Mail ballots rejected: How many mail ballots are rejected as a percentage of all ballots cast? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Mail ballots unreturned: How many mail ballots are unreturned by voters as a percentage of all mail ballots transmitted? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Military and overseas ballots rejected: How many military and overseas ballots are rejected as a percentage of military and overseas ballots returned by voters and submitted for counting? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Military and overseas ballots unreturned: How many military and overseas ballots are unreturned by voters as a percentage of all military and overseas ballots transmitted? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Online registration available: How many states allow voters to complete a voter registration application entirely online, without requiring that a form be printed out, mailed, or scanned? Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Postelection audit required: How many states require a post-election audit of voting equipment? Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Provisional ballots cast: How many provisional ballots (used when there are discrepancies between a voter’s registration record and the information presented at the polls) are cast as a percentage of all ballots cast? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Provisional ballots rejected: How many provisional ballots (used when there are discrepancies between a voter’s registration record and the information presented at the polls) are rejected as a percentage of all ballots cast? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Registration or absentee ballot problems: What percentage of people cites registration problems as the reason for not voting? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Registrations rejected: What percentage of voter registrations was rejected or invalid? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Residual vote rate: What percentage of ballots cast contained either an under-vote (i.e., no vote) or an over-vote (i.e., more than one candidate marked in a single-winner race)? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Voting wait time: What is the average time spent waiting to vote at the polls? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index

Democratic Participation and Voting

An active and engaged citizenry is critical to a well-functioning democracy. This section explores how citizens participate in the formal democratic process, including information on voting participation and individual contributions to political campaigns.
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Turnout: Number of total ballots calculated (all ballots election officials counted) divided by the voting-eligible population. Source: U.S. Elections Project
Voter registration rate: What percent of citizens are registered to vote? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Funding to House candidates from individual donors: What percentage of total funding to House candidates comes from individual donors? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $200 or less: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $201-$999: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $1,000 or more: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $1,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Funding to Senate candidates from individual donors: What percentage of total funding to Senate candidates comes from individual donors? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $200 or less: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts were individual contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $201-$999: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $1,000 or more: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $1,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $200 or less: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $200 or less: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $201-$999: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $201-$999: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $1,000-$19,999: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $1,000-$19,999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $1,000-$19,999: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $1,000-$19,999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $20,000 or more: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $20,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $20,000 or more: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $20,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute

Turnout: Number of total ballots calculated (all ballots election officials counted) divided by the voting-eligible population. Source: U.S. Elections Project
Voter registration rate: What percent of citizens are registered to vote? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Funding to House candidates from individual donors: What percentage of total funding to House candidates comes from individual donors? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Funding to Senate candidates from individual donors: What percentage of total funding to Senate candidates comes from individual donors? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $200 or less: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $201-$999: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $1,000 or more: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $1,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $200 or less: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts were individual contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $201-$999: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $1,000 or more: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $1,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $200 or less: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $200 or less: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $201-$999: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $201-$999: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $1,000-$19,999: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $1,000-$19,999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $1,000-$19,999: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $1,000-$19,999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $20,000 or more: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $20,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $20,000 or more: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $20,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Turnout: Number of total ballots calculated (all ballots election officials counted) divided by the voting-eligible population. Source: U.S. Elections Project
Voter registration rate: What percent of citizens are registered to vote? This is an average across states that report data for the given year. Source: Pew Elections Performance Index
Funding to House candidates from individual donors: What percentage of total funding to House candidates comes from individual donors? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Funding to Senate candidates from individual donors: What percentage of total funding to Senate candidates comes from individual donors? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $200 or less: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $201-$999: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to House candidates of $1,000 or more: What percentage of House candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $1,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $200 or less: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts were individual contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $201-$999: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to Senate candidates of $1,000 or more: What percentage of Senate candidates’ total receipts from were individual contributions of $1,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $200 or less: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $200 or less: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $200 or less? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $201-$999: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $201-$999: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $201-$999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $1,000-$19,999: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $1,000-$19,999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $1,000-$19,999: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $1,000-$19,999? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the DNC of $20,000 or more: What percentage of the DNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $20,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute
Individual Contributions to the RNC of $20,000 or more: What percentage of the RNC’s total receipts from individual donors were contributions of $20,000 or more? Source: Campaign Finance Institute

Public Opinion

Trust in government among citizens is an essential ingredient in democracy. This section examines citizens’ attitudes and beliefs toward elected officials, government institutions, and the state of American democracy.
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Executive Branch Capacity

The successful implementation of laws depends on a high-functioning presidency and administrative state. This section examines the rulemaking, personnel, and management capacity of the executive branch.
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Number of areas designated as “high-risk” by GAO. See readme for more information on “high-risk” areas and date ranges. Source: GAO “High-Risk” Series
Total number of rules reviewed by OIRA. Source: Reginfo.gov review counts
Percent of rules reviewed by OIRA deemed “economically significant.” See readme for more information on “economically significant.” Source: Reginfo.gov review counts
Average time taken by OIRA to review “economically significant” rules. Source: Reginfo.gov review counts
Average time taken by OIRA to review “other than economically significant” rules. See readme for more information on “other than economically significant” rules. Source: Reginfo.gov review counts
Percent of Senate-confirmed positions vacant according to the Plum Book. See readme for more information on date ranges. Source: Plum Book
Percent of government–wide senior executive service (SES) that left civil service for various reasons. See readme for more information on SES and types of separation. Source: OPM FedScope Separations and Employment Cubes

Legislative Branch Capacity

An attentive, hard-working Congress is the lynchpin of effective governance. This section explores the duties of legislation and oversight, and the current state of partisan politics in Congress.
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Percent of salient legislative issues in gridlock. See readme for more information on issue salience. Source: Sarah A. Binder, Stalemate: Causes and Consequences of Legislative Gridlock, Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution, 2003, Appendix A.
Number of votes on cloture. Source: Vital Statistics Table 6-7, Senate.gov cloture counts
Total number of days House of Representatives was in session. Source: Vital Statistics Table 6-1, House Calendars final edition
Total number of days Senate was in session. Source: Vital Statistics Table 6-2, Senate Calendars final edition
Total number of House committee and subcommittee meetings. Source: Vital Statistics Tables 6-1 and 6-2
Total number of Senate committee and subcommittee meetings. Includes business meetings. Source: Vital Statistics Tables 6-1 and 6-2
Number of conference reports issued. See readme for more information on conference reports and method. Source: Congress.gov
Number of key votes in the House of Representatives, as determined by CQ Almanac. Source: CQ Almanac key votes tables
Number of key votes in the Senate, as determined by CQ Almanac. Source: CQ Almanac key votes tables

Judicial Branch Capacity

A capable system of courts is essential to safeguarding fundamental promises between a democratic state and its citizens. This section examines the workload and capacity of the judicial branch.
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Percent of authorized U.S. Courts of Appeals judgeships unoccupied on September 30th of the given year. Source: Judicial Facts and FiguresTable 1.1
Percent of authorized U.S. District Courts judgeships unoccupied on September 30th of the given year. Source: Judicial Facts and FiguresTable 1.1
Percent of authorized U.S. bankruptcy courts judgeships that were unoccupied on September 30th of the given year. Source: Judicial Facts and FiguresTable 1.1
Number of U.S. Courts of Appeals cases terminated on the merits per active judge in given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table B-10
Number of U.S. Courts of Appeals cases terminated by procedural judgments per active judge in given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table B-5A
Number of U.S. District Courts civil cases terminated per active judge in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table C
Number of U.S. District Courts criminal cases terminated per active judge in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table D
Number of U.S. bankrupcty courts cases terminated per active judge in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table F
Number of cases filed with the U.S. Courts of Appeals in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table B-3
Number of civil cases filed with the U.S. District Courts in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table C
Number of criminal cases filed with the U.S. District Courts in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table D
Number of cases filed with U.S. bankruptcy courts in the given fiscal year. Source: Judicial Business Table F
Number of weighted U.S. District Courts filings per authorized judgeship. Weighted filings defined by 2003-2004 Federal Judicial Center case-weighting study. See readme for more information on weighted filings. Source: Judicial Business Table X-1A
Number of U.S. District Courts judicial emergencies on December 1 of the given year. See readme for more information on judicial emergencies. Source: USCourts.gov judicial emergency archives
Number of U.S. Courts of Appeals judicial emergencies on December 1 of the given year. See readme for more information on judicial emergencies. Source: USCourts.gov judicial emergency archives

Media Capacity

Unprecedented media exposure and access make the work of the “Fourth Estate” more important than ever before. This section explores recent shifts in media delivery, and how citizens perceive organizations delivering the news.
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Number of newspaper reporters stationed in state houses full-time. Count includes only full-time employees. Source: American Journalism Review, Pew Research Center
Percent of those responding “a great deal” or “fair amount.” See readme for more information on survey. Source: Gallup
Number of daily newspapers circulated. Count includes newspapers circulated in morning and evening. Source: Newspaper Association of America
Percent of Democrats who trust the news source most trusted by Republicans. See readme for more information on surveys. Source: Pew Research Center, Public Policy Polling
Percent of Republicans who trust the news source most trusted by Democrats. See readme for more information on surveys. Source: Pew Research Center, Public Policy Polling