In the News
2025
Before Vote by Mail, Some Local Elections Saw Single-Digit Turnout. Lawmakers May End the Method as Utahns Know It.| Salt Lake Tribune
Feb 2, 2025 — In a Salt Lake Tribune article on HB300 and the future of Utah’s vote-by-mail system, researchers highlight the impact mail-in ballots have had on voter turnout.
Michael Barber, a political science professor at Brigham Young University, along with student Asia Lynne Reid, analyzed municipal election data and found that vote by mail significantly boosted participation across the state — raising turnout from single digits in rural towns like Kamas to over 50%. Barber explained that many “sometimes voters” only cast ballots when one is delivered to them, and without that convenience, they often fail to participate. He emphasized the rarity of a single policy having such a strong effect on voter engagement.
Feb 3 2025 — Genesis of a debacle: A little-noticed law opened the door to political gamesmanship on Utah ballots | Utah News Dispatch
Utah’s 2024 ballot meltdown stemmed from SB37, a last-minute law shifting ballot description duties from impartial attorneys to legislative leaders. The Utah Supreme Court later voided two proposed constitutional amendments, citing misleading language and procedural errors.
Polling by BYU’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy found that 79% of Utahns opposed letting lawmakers amend or repeal citizen initiatives, but Amendment D’s biased wording suggested otherwise. BYU political scientist Quin Monson told The Tribune legislators had “purposefully obfuscated” the amendment’s true purpose — a political “power grab.”
Feb 6, 2025 — As Marriage and Childbearing Rates Decline, Researchers Look for Ways to Help Families | Deseret News
In a Deseret News article covering the release of the 10th annual American Family Survey, BYU political science professors Christopher Karpowitz and Jeremy Pope—both fellows at the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University—discussed their findings on how Americans perceive family stability and the government's role in supporting it. The survey revealed widespread agreement across partisan lines that “raising children is one of life’s greatest joys” and that children fare better financially when raised by married parents. However, just 23% of respondents support the government encouraging people to have more children. Pope warned that without a durable, bipartisan coalition, declining marriage and fertility rates will worsen, while Karpowitz emphasized the need for sustained, cross-party support for broad family policies.
Feb 12, 2025 — Latest American Family Survey Finds Mounting Economic Worries | Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
In a Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity article about the 10th annual American Family Survey, BYU political science professors Christopher Karpowitz and Jeremy Pope—fellows at the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy—discussed growing partisan divides in approaches to family policy. Karpowitz emphasized that despite political differences, “red and blue families look very similar” in daily life, united by a shared love for their children. Pope cautioned, however, that Democrats tend to overlook marriage as an institution while Republicans are reluctant to back pro-family government programs. Both stressed that any successful coalition must be broad-based and sustained, as short-lived or partisan efforts risk leaving families without meaningful long-term support.
Mar 5, 2025 — We’re officially Utahns now! | Deseret News
Utahns are now officially “Utahns.” The Legislature passed SB230, sponsored by Sen. Dan McCay, to formalize the state’s demonym after years of debate over “Utahn” versus “Utahan.” BYU political scientist Quin Monson, who advised on the bill, noted Utahns overwhelmingly prefer “Utahn,” while national outlets often use the extra “a.” The bill passed the Senate unanimously and the House with just two opposing votes.
May 11, 2025 — Parental instincts: Politics, parenting and sharing the load | Deseret News
The 2024 American Family Survey — conducted by the Deseret News in partnership with BYU’s Wheatley Institute and the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy — shows that for parents, family identity outweighs political identity.
Among adults with children under 18, about nine in 10 Republicans and nearly as many Democrats said raising children is “one of life’s greatest joys.” On a five-point scale, parents rated their family identity much higher (4.4–4.5) than either career (3.4–3.6) or partisan political identity (2.8–3.1).
“Partisanship matters a lot, and it colors how we see the world,” said Chris Karpowitz, BYU political science professor and co-author of the survey. “But is it the most important identity? Actually, when we ask people, they tell us that their family identities are way more important.”
Aug 7, 2025 — Analysis: This isn’t the first U.S. gerrymandering battle — not by a long shot | Deseret News
In a Deseret News analysis on gerrymandering, BYU political scientist Jeremy Pope noted that redistricting has been a constant in American politics and is often used by leaders to deflect from policy or candidate weaknesses. Pope, a Wheatley Institute fellow, said both parties exploit the practice while criticizing the other. Kelly Patterson, senior research fellow at BYU’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, cautioned that recent efforts tied to presidential influence pose a troubling threat to electoral accountability.
2024
Critics say Amendment D language misleads. Se we asked Utahns what D says | KUER 90.1
Sep 9, 2024 — Saige Miller and Elle Crossley discuss Amendment D and whether it is constitutional. They show that there is considerable confusion about what the measure really does, so they interviewed several Utahns about the issue.
"Quin Monson, political science professor at Brigham Young University, said the ballot language that will appear before voters does not match the constitutional amendment language...'They're basically asserting the supreme power of the Legislature over the power of the people.'"
It's the Economy: Voters Outline Their Worries in American Family Survey | Deseret News
Oct 31, 2024 — Lois M. Collins writes about preliminary American Family Survey results showing that Americans list inflation as a primary concern regardless of income level or partisan identity.
"what’s top of mind in terms of how families are viewing their finances and the economy in general? “Inflation” is the clear answer, with more than 55% of responding adults calling themselves very worried. Nothing else comes close.
Add in the number who say they are somewhat worried about inflation and the tally reaches 88% of respondents — “as close to universal as things get in survey research,” write Brigham Young University political science professors Chris Karpowitz and Jeremy C. Pope"
2023
Can AI predict how you'll vote in the next election? | BYU News
Mar 27, 2023 — Tyler Stahle examines a BYU study showing that Artificial Intelligence engines are able to respond to complex survey questions "like a real human."
"Busby says surveying artificial personas shouldn't replace the need to survey real people and that academics and other experts need to come together to define the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence surveying in research related to social science."
What Happens to the Group When the Individual Tops All? | RadioWest
Aug 31, 2023 — Professors Chris Karpowitz and Kelly Patterson join the RadioWest podcast to discuss their study showing that those who scored high on moral individualism expressed less willingness to sacrifice for the common good.
"American culture promotes a strong sense of individualism. But, what happens when individualism trumps community?"
2022
Balance of Power: Did Utah’s legislature violate the state constitution with its remote school plan? | KSL News
Feb 2, 2022 — Lindsay Aerts, Former Anchor/Producer/Reporter explores whether the implementation of S.B. 107 and H.B. 183 constitute a violation of the State Constitution of Utah.
"'The thing that seems strange constitutionally is giving the speaker of the House and the Senate president a unilateral decision-making role when there’s nothing in the state constitution suggesting they have been given that.'
According to Brown, the speaker and president can act for their respective chambers. However, they cannot make binding decisions affecting a school district."
Faith, Hope, Charity, and Politics | Y Magazine
Fall 2022 — Dr. Jessica Robinson Preece discusses avoiding the trap of cynicism by exploring how faith has a place in politics by walking a pathway of hope instead of insecurity.
"We read that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). I have come to understand the scripture this way: true faith leads to substantial action in the direction of the good things we hope for. As we act we make the things we hope for much more likely to appear. Occasionally this happens through reason-defying miracles, but more often it happens through hard work that is inspired, magnified, and sanctified by God."
2021
Juggling parenting, work and a pandemic is not getting easier | Deseret News
January 28, 2021 — Using data from The American Family Survey, this article explores the different impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has on parenting and familial relationships in general.
"The 2020 American Family Survey found that relationship status was the primary predictor of whether someone is lonely. “On the whole, family relationships appear to provide resources and support for navigating the coronavirus, not cause for emotional stress and difficulty,” the survey report said."
What happens when domestic duties shift? These couples found out | The Guam Daily Post
June 11, 2021 — This article uses data from CSED's American Family Survey to discuss various martial and relational changes and challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In September 2020, the annual American Family Survey, a joint effort by the Deseret News and the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University, found that married people reported largely positive views of their own marriages, with 43% saying their relationships had grown stronger during the pandemic. Another 48% said they were 'about the same.'"
2020
Like Sheep to the Slaughter: How American Individualism Has Prevented an Effective COVID-19 Response | The Yale Politic
August 2, 2020 — Ethan Meldrum, a research assistant on the effects of moral individualism on behavior during COVID-19 at CSED, shared his perspective on the power of individualism within the scope of COVID-19.
"It's difficult to see exactly how [the pandemic] is going to end with the American ideal of individualism...If America continues on its path of individualism, the virus is only going to get worse—which is what we're seeing right now."
Parents don't want their kids to become politicians, upcoming American Family Survey finds | Deseret News
September 10, 2020 — The American Family Survey found that 90 percent of parents do not want their children to become politicians. Jeremy Pope, the co-director of this project, shared some interesting insight into this finding.
"I think the reason to care about this question is not actually to get the answer to what parents want their kids to be when they grow up. It’s more an indicator of how people feel about politics right now. Is it an honorable area? Is it a poor life choice?”
Why loneliness fuels populism | Financial Times
September 24, 2020 — The American Family Survey found that in 2016 those who voted for Donald Trump tended to be more lonely than those who voted for Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton. This finding was was to analyze the impact on loneliness in the political climate in this article.
"Across the Atlantic, a 2016 poll by the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy revealed Donald Trump voters to be significantly more likely to report having fewer close friends, fewer acquaintances and to spend fewer hours a week with both than supporters of either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders."
2019
How The 116th Congress Can Teach Female CEOs To Reject The Likability Myth | Forbes
January 9, 2019 — Drs. Jessica Preece, Quin Monson, and Chris Karpowitz’s study of Utah Republicans yielded interesting insights into how gender plays a role in local politics.
“Dr. Jessica Robinson Preece is a researcher at Brigham Young University. Her researche with Dr. Christopher Karpowitz and Dr. J. Quin Monson found that simple interventions by party leaders could significantly boost women being recruited and elected to leadership positions. 'Voters respond to the cues that leaders send about whether having Republican women in office is a priority,' Preece said.”
2018
Religion declining in importance for many Americans, especially Millennials | Religion News Service
December 10, 2018 — The American Family Survey has reported that more people are identifying as having no religious affiliation in comparison to past years. The changes are especially apparent among Millenials and GenXers.
“‘Though the change from year to year is small, there is a clear upward trend,’ says Chris Karpowitz, professor of political science at BYU and co-director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy.”
Cost of raising children a major obstacle for US families, study finds | Catholic News Agency
December 4, 2018 — American families are finding it harder to afford having children, the American Family Survey found. Families with children are more likely to have financial crises in comparison to those who do not have children at home.
“Of those who have children at home, 73 percent say they worry about being able to pay at least one monthly bill, and 44 percent have faced an economic crisis in the last year – being unable to pay an important bill or going without food, medical care or housing due to financial difficulty.”
Sexual harassment in workplace is seen quite differently by men, women | Crain’s Cleveland Business
December 3, 2018 — The American Family Survey reported that men and women have very different interpretations of sexual harassment in the work place. Women tend to be significantly more weary than men of certain behaviors at the workplace.
“One of the biggest gaps was in experience: 28% of men said they’ve had an inappropriate experience, compared to almost six in 10 women, with women more likely to say that incidents occurred in the workplace, the report said.”