With midterm elections approaching, a University of Rhode Island project is working to give election workers the analytical skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex system through the Data Empowerment Project.
Election offices generate vast amounts of information through voter registration systems, ballot processing technology and administrative workflows, according to URI PhD alum Nicholas Bernardo ’17, who helps lead the Data Empowerment Project through the Engineering for Democracy Institute. Many of those systems produce data that can guide planning, but only if workers know how to interpret it.
“They don’t always have the tools to process or utilize that data to make decisions or understand their situation,” Bernardo said.
The institute focuses on strengthening the technical capacity of election offices through research, training and partnerships with local officials, according to the Engineering for Democracy Institute (EDI) website. Its work spans cybersecurity, data analysis and administrative process improvement, giving jurisdictions access to expertise that many lack in‑house.
The Engineering for Democracy Institute supports 35 election jurisdictions in 18 states, reaching more than 26 million registered voters, according to the EDI website. Its research has informed state agencies in 22 counties across 12 states since 2022.
The program aims to give election workers practical skills to analyze turnout patterns, allocate resources and strengthen public transparency, shared Bernardo. Trainings focus on helping workers understand what the numbers show and how those insights can shape decisions in real time.
“The real problem we’re trying to solve is give them the tools and experience to collect that data, analyze it using statistical tools and then use it to make decisions,” Bernardo said.
Data‑driven planning has become essential amid tight budgets and heightened scrutiny of election processes, according to Bernardo. Election offices often make decisions under tight timelines and data helps them anticipate where problems may arise before voters arrive at the polls.
“Having a better understanding of what’s going on helps combat any misinformation,” Bernardo said.
The project uses hands-on workshops that walk participants through each step of working with data, Bernardo shared. Participants work directly with real datasets and learn how to clean, sort and visualize information using open‑source tools.
“They learn by walking through from the very beginning — how do you even install these programs, what does the data look like?” Bernardo said.
The workshops also address how artificial intelligence can support data work, according to Bernardo. Because election offices handle sensitive information, the team emphasizes privacy and teaches workers how to identify which tasks are safe to automate.
“We don’t want it to create anything from scratch because that can introduce errors or assumptions you didn’t intend,” Bernardo said. “You need that level of understanding initially.”
The project’s first workshops drew 24 participants from 11 counties across 10 states. The team also offers a free online version of the course for workers who want to learn independently.
According to Bernardo, the team plans to expand access to the training and hopes more election workers will use the online materials to strengthen data literacy in their offices.
“Having a better understanding of what’s going on helps combat any misinformation or just provide additional information to voters,” Bernardo said.
