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Dr. Jeff Bird: Indiana University Health Strives to Provide Excellence in Healthcare
By Dr. Jeff Bird— MUNCIE, IN—IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital provides the primary healthcare service for most of the residents of Delaware County and acts as the tertiary care referral center for East Central Indiana. The clinical care is led by two dedicated clinical leaders: Dr. Ryan Johnston MD, the Chief Medical Officer, and Melissa Hicks, DNP, RN, the Chief Nursing Officer. Under their leadership, the quality and safety of patients hospitalized at IU Health Ball Memorial is vigorously monitored, and processes are in place to continually improve. IU Health Ball was founded in 1929 by funds primarily given by...
Joey Lawrence says ‘Melissa & Joey’ was ‘ruined’ by Freeform
Joey Lawrence says ‘Melissa & Joey,’ in which he starred for four seasons opposite Melissa Joan Hart, was ‘ruined’ by Freeform
Amazon MGM Names Daniel Matusov Head of Business Affairs for Animation
Amazon MGM Studios has moved TV biz affairs exec Dan Matusov onto Melissa Wolfe's Animation team as part of a restructure.
Tributes to Justice Melissa Hart
It was an extremely busy few weeks in court-related news, but the biggest and most unexpected development was the death of former state Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart.
Roundtable Ravens Episode 42 - Breaking Down Week 4 Win
Roundtable Ravens crew James Brizuela and Billie Melissa break down the Baltimore Ravens' Week 4 win against the Tennessee Titans.
Dane County budget plan would reduce health insurance costs, cut jobs
County Executive Melissa Agard’s proposal would eliminate vacant roles and tap $23 million in rainy day funds to make ends meet.
Free health clinic in Largo: What's available Oct. 3 and 4
Many free medical, dental and vision services will be available in Largo this weekend at Prince George’s Community College. Shary Jones, a volunteer with Remote Area Medical, told News4’s Melissa Mollet and Jummy Olabanji about the offerings. No insurance or identification are required.
Tampa General Hospital’s Melissa Golombek Honored With 2026 Apogee Award by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth
Executive vice president and president of Tampa General Hospital recognized for driving organizational excellence, innovation and community impact. Sept. 29, 2026 – Tampa General Hospital (TGH) announced today that Melissa Golombek, executive vice president and president, Tampa General Hospital, has been honored with the 2026 Apogee Award in the President category for large organizations by […]
The Family Business Advantage: Third Quarterly Power Breakfast of 2026 explores how family businesses balance legacy and innovation
Photo by GFBJAnother successful Power Breakfast is in the books. The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal hosted its third quarterly Power Breakfast of 2026 on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Local leaders and decision-makers gathered to network and learn from the panel about how established principles drive long-term stability while allowing for operational evolution. The panel featured Managing Partner of Luigi’s Italian Chophouse & Bar, Nate Ernst; Inside Sales at Hubbard Supplyhouse, Mary Grace Hurley; Chief Operations Officer for Copiers Plus, Drew Smith; and CEO of Holmes Security Systems, Stephen Wheeler. The panel was moderated by Lauren Willets, director of the Family Enterprise Center at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Throughout the discussion, the panelists returned to a common idea: family businesses thrive when they preserve the relationships and values at their core while remaining open to change.Each panelist shared personal stories that carried practical lessons. Stephen Wheeler emphasized the role of relationships with customers and employees, saying, “What makes a family business successful today is relationships.” Mary Grace Hurley echoed Wheeler’s sentiment, describing relationships as a lasting inheritance, including a customer connection that began when she was young and continued into her working life. “If something’s given to you, that’s going to cost you too,” added Nate Ernst. He explained this philosophy by sharing that, in his view, earning responsibility builds credibility and confidence.Another hot topic was the idea of tradition versus change. For these businesses that have been around for a century or even more, it can be difficult to escape the “we’ve always done it this way” caveat, but these speakers emphasized how change has been an integral part of their growth and longevity. A family business can honor its history without being bound by it.“Innovation and tradition–they don’t have to be competing with one another,” shared Hurley. She pointed to changes in how businesses operate, including the adoption of computers and new management practices. Ernst stressed that adaptation is essential, while Wheeler described how his family’s electrical contracting business had evolved into a security-focused company. The details of the work may change, but identifying and upholding core values is key to embracing change while maintaining the character of a business. “I think it’s just important to remember why you started in the first place. What was your mission? What are your core values? And to reevaluate those,” shared Drew Smith.In addition to the first-hand accounts and wisdom shared by panelists, Moderator Lauren Willets recommended two novels during the panel for those seeking additional educational resources. Those two novels are “Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business with both Love and Logic”by Cathy Carroll and “In the Company of Family: How to Thrive When Business Is Personal” by Melissa Mitchell-Blitch. Preparing the next generation requires more than handing over a title or company. Wheeler argued that future leaders need genuine passion and a vested interest in the business. The panelists were in agreement that succession is a process, and there is not one clear answer for how to perfectly prepare for it. Leaders must cultivate readiness, keep communication open and make room for the next generation to earn responsibility while being sure not to neglect the business in the here and now. “Today’s Power Breakfast was one of our best events yet! Between the passion and in-depth knowledge of the panelists, the great audience questions and the guidance and expertise of Mrs. Willets, the conversation was both engaging and informative,” shared GFBJ Publisher Faith Hatton. “A lot of small businesses in Fayetteville are family-owned and grown, and it’s great to be able to spotlight some of the businesses that have stood the test of time by strengthening the next generation of leadership and preparing them for ownership. I hope everyone received some inspiration and ideas that they can bring back to their own businesses and organizations!”We thank everyone who attended this Power Breakfast and hope you’ll all join us for the next Power Breakfast on Dec. 8. Details about the event will be shared on our social media and in future email updates. To learn about becoming a Power Breakfast sponsor, contact the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal at 910.240.9697 or marketing@bizfayetteville.com.
Wrapping up Recovery Month with Alpharus Health, formerly Gateway Foundation: Rebrand and resources
Alpharus Health, formerly Gateway Foundation
Massachusetts mom builds healthy muffin business during pandemic
Melissa Bermudez, co-founder and CEO of Unrefined Foods, turned her passion for baking into a business offering frozen, whole-grain muffins made with clean ingredients.
Melissa Joan Hart sparks reaction while showing off weight loss transformation in new gym video
Texts link Justin Baldoni’s crisis PR pro to 'smear' sites, complaint alleges
Top Hollywood publicist Melissa Nathan faces allegations of playing a key role in running 'smear' sites for embattled celebrities amid the Justin Baldoni legal saga. In a deposition, Nathan denied she was the mastermind behind the now-defunct stephaniejonesleaks.com.
Geiger, Byer Vie for Rockland Area House Seat
ROCKLAND — Residents of Rockland, North Haven, Matinicus, and part of Owls Head will decide whether to return Democrat Valli Geiger to the State House or elect political newcomer Melissa
Melissa Barrera reveals what it would take for her to return to the “Scream” franchise after firing
Barrera was cut from the horror-comedy saga after sharing controversial posts on social media.
Quincy Symphony to open season with soprano Melissa Citro
QUINCY — The Quincy Symphony Orchestra will open its 79th concert season, titled “World of Wonder,” with a performance called “Untold Stories” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the […]
Ipswich woman turns passion for horses into massage business
Melissa “Melly” Cote has turned her passion for horses into her own business, “Mellow Touch,” where she massages horses. The Ipswich resident graduated from Essex Tech in 2005 with a major in horse management and now serves as assistant manager at Labyrinth Farm. When not riding on her horses, her hobbies include singing, songwriting and […]
Earth life support systems are flashing red, warns 2026 Planetary Health Check
Human activities continue eroding the planet’s stability, resilience and life-support functions, the third edition of the Planetary Health Check released in September warns. The “scary” part of the 2026 report, says lead co-author Levke Caesar, is that the trends are largely going in the wrong direction. “We still have seven out of the nine planetary […]
University Hospitals creates new role to expand venture investing
University Hospitals named Melissa Cohen to a new role overseeing venture investments and business development.
Roundtable Rams Episode 36
Roundtable Rams crew James Brizuela and Billie Melissa break down the Los Angeles Rams Week 2 victory over the New York Giants.
Roundtable Ravens Episode 40 - Reactions to Week 2 Loss
Roundtable Ravens crew James Brizuela and Billie Melissa break down the Baltimore Ravens' loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Melissa Rivers Reveals Her Blunt Response When a ‘Big Actress' Confronted Her About ‘Fashion Police'
Melissa Rivers isn't naming names-but she remembers exactly what she said when a major actress confronted her over Fashion Police.
Melissa Rivers Reveals Her Blunt Response When a ‘Big Actress' Confronted Her About ‘Fashion Police'
Melissa Rivers isn't naming names-but she remembers exactly what she said when a major actress confronted her over Fashion Police.
Melissa Barrera Says Ed Sheeran Could Have Rebooked His Shows and “People Would Have Rallied Behind Him”
Melissa Barrera was fired from the Scream franchise in 2023 over social media posts criticizing Israel and praising Ed Sheeran’s decision to remove himself from the U.S. leg of his… The post Melissa B...
Matthew Lillard regrets 'Scream 7' return after Melissa Barrera firing
Matthew Lillard has some regrets about his "Scream" return.
Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen star in the first look at Netflix’s “The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey”
The limited series was previously dropped by Paramount+.
Emmys red carpet: Best dressed at 2026 Emmy Awards
The best looks from the 2026 Emmys Awards include Ciara Miller and Melissa Rivers.
2026-2027 Dean's Speaker Series
Join Dean Melissa Perry for a public health speaker series.
Roundtable Ravens Episode 39
Roundtable Ravens crew James Brizuela and Billie Melissa break down the Baltimore Ravens' Week 1 win against the Indianapolis Colts.
Midi Health Unveils Its Third Reinvention and a Bigger Mission
Midi Health’s third rebrand refreshes its identity to reflect its evolution from menopause care to a broader women’s health platform.
Fighting for every Colorado rural hospital on the eastern plains
By Lauren Boebert After touring Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke and Wray Community District Hospital — two of more than a dozen rural hospitals in my district — I was again reminded why I fight for them in Washington. The doctors, nurses and staff on the eastern plains keep care close to home. In rural […]
Walton: Mental health resources are economic infrastructure
Melissa Walton of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council examines how behavioral health investments can support Oklahoma County's growth and workforce.
Melissa Castro swore under oath she stopped pulling Coral Gables permits. Records show 132 more
New records contradict Castro's sworn declaration that her permit-expediting firm cut all ties with Coral Gables.
Roundtable Rams Episode 34
Roundtable Rams crew James Brizuela and Billie Melissa break down the Los Angeles Rams Week 1 showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.
My book was a financial failure but it led to career opportunities
Melissa Petro discusses her journey from landing a six-figure book deal to navigating the challenges of publishing and sustainability as an author.
St. Charles Park District: Building confidence, one Science experiment at a time
Column: Making soft, stretchy slime or dabbling in crafting Halloween-themed science experiences, there’s always a secret ingredient that instructor Lisa Lombardi brings to the table: Positivity, writes Melissa Rubalcaba Riske for the St. Charles Park District
Melissa Hirschenson Exits Innovative, Launches The Hirschenson Group
EXCLUSIVE: We have learned that senior talent agent Melissa Hirschenson is launching The Hirschenson Group, a new management and entertainment consulting company. The Hirschenson Group will work acros...
From Veteran to Legal Advocate: A Monarch Public Health Alumna Working Toward Change
When Melissa Feliciano (B.S.P.H. ’24) left the U.S. Navy in 2021, she thought her future was mapped out. She would become a doctor, work in medicine and help patients one-on-one. But, somewhere between studying public health, working as a medical assistant and volunteering, her vision for creating change grew much larger.
The Business of Broadway: Star-driven shows increase prices, demand this fall
If you want to stay ahead of the Broadway market, and get some good choices and availability, act in the next week or so.
Melissa Gilbert calls for protections for child stars after Hayden Panettiere’s death: ‘Something is very, very wrong’
Melissa Gilbert called for Hollywood to start ‘mitigating exploitation’ of child actors in the wake of Hayden Panettiere’s death: ‘Something is very, very wrong.’
NJBIA to Honor 6 Rising Stars at NJ Women Business Leaders Forum
The winners of the NJBIA 2026 Rising Star awards are (L-R) Olivia Ivy Altidor, Erin Bolger Elizabeth, Melissa “Mel” Josephson, Jocelyn Kranicka, Zack Metzger and Monserrat Miranda. NJBIA will honor six standout students with “Rising Star” awards when more than 400 business leaders, entrepreneurs and students gather for the 12th Annual New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum at Bally’s in Atlantic City on Sept. 23-24. “NJBIA’s[...]
Democrats rally behind progressive Aisha Wahab after win in California special election
First Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to California legislature held lead throughout race over main opponent Melissa Hernandez
Bill Maher rips left-wing lawmaker for sacrificing liberal values to appease Muslim voters
Bill Maher slammed Melissa Chaudhry, a progressive Democrat challenging Rep. Adam Smith in Seattle, for omitting LGBT rights to appeal to Muslims.
Roundtable Ravens Episode 35 - Preseason Opener: Top Performers, Injuries, More
Roundtable Ravens crew James Brizuela, Billie Melissa, and Ricardo Sandoval break down the Baltimore Ravens preseason opener. Top performers, injury updates, and more.
Hayden Panettiere tributes include Connie Britton, Viola Davis and Selma Blair
Stars are paying tribute to Hayden Panettiere after the actor's death at 36, including her “Nashville” co-star Connie Britton, Viola Davis, Melissa Barrera and Bethany Joy Lenz, along with podcaster
Hayden Panettiere tributes include Viola Davis, Selma Blair and Melissa Barrera
Stars are paying tribute to Hayden Panettiere after the actor's death at 36. Panettiere rose to fame on NBC's “Heroes” and the series “Nashville.” On Monday, fellow actors including Viola
Political strategists clash over over growing divisions within Democratic Party
Political strategists Angie Wong and Melissa DeRosa join 'Fox News Live' to discuss internal divisions within the Democratic Party, the rise of DSA candidates and disputes over key policies.
East Bay congressional race to replace Eric Swalwell heats up between Aisha Wahab, Melissa Hernandez
Voters in the East Bay have about a week to decide who will fill the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's congressional term in a special election that has become an expensive and increasingly contentious contest between two Democrats. BART Board President Melissa Hernandez and state Sen. Aisha Wahab are facing off in the race.
For 40 years, FarmNet has helped NY farms grow
Melissa Keller achieved her lifelong dream of farm ownership with the help of NY FarmNet, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Three George Mason faculty members elected to Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The 2026 elected class includes individuals from the George Mason University: Liping Di of the College of Science, Dean Melissa J. Perry of the College of Public Health, and Siddhartha Sikdar of the College of Engineering and Computing.
Minnesota man gets two life terms for political killings
Vance Boelter assassinated former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband
Melissa Gilbert reveals future of 'When Calls the Heart' role
For Melissa Gilbert, some goodbyes truly are a Hallmark moment.
Melissa Gilbert names the most progressive episode of original ‘Little House on the Prairie’
Melissa Gilbert is looking back on the original ‘Little House on the Prairie’ ahead of the new Netflix series, and singing the praises of this progressive 1977 episode: ‘I don’t think we get more woke than that.’
Melissa Gilbert discovers she has 3 older brothers: ‘The true story of our adoptions is a jaw dropper’
Former child star Melissa Gilbert, who was adopted at birth by comedian Paul Gilbert, discovers she has three older half-brothers on her birth mother’s side: ‘The true story of our adoptions is a jaw dropper.’
Meet Melissa Rutland, the Republican running to flip HD 60 with a pledge that 'solutions aren't partisan'
The battle to replace Democrat Lindsay Cross is likely to be one of the toughest this cycle.
Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen to play JonBenét Ramsey's parents in new Netflix series
"The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey" aims to examine the case from multiple viewpoints, including those of the Ramsey family and investigators, rather than presenting a single theory.
Netflix will release JonBenét Ramsey show starring Melissa McCarthy
The eight-episode series also stars Clive Owen, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, and Shea Whigham.
Melissa Etheridge: 'We're going to rock your toes off'
Melissa Etheridge is a survivor. For starters, try coming out publicly as a lesbian in January 1992 at a time when entertainers didn’t do that kind of thing; surviving breast
‘All My Children’ Alum’s Mysterious Health Crisis Prompts Plea From Friends and Costars
Marcy Walker is leaning on her All My Children and Santa Barbara family as she battles a private health issue. The 64-year-old former soap star’s friends, Melissa Braverman and Johanna Humphries, laun...
Melissa Gilbert leaves NYC amid husband Timothy Busfield's legal troubles
Melissa Gilbert is leaving the Big Apple apartment she shared with husband Timothy Busfield after eight years.
Herring Gut Coastal Science Center welcomes two new members to Advisory Council
PORT CLYDE — Two distinguished leaders in environmental science and communications have been appointed to Herring Gut Coastal Science Center's Advisory Council: Claire Parsons and Melissa Waterman. The Advisory Council provides strategic guidance and expertise to support Herring Gut's mission of educating students and communities about the connections between Maine's waters, environment, and economy.
New Monroe County mental health office director appointed
Melissa Armstrong was previously program director of Rochester Regional Health's Behavioral Health Access and Crisis Center.
NWA Women in Business: Melissa Curry
Residence: Fort Smith Education: Certified dementia practitioner, certified dementia practitioner trainer, certified dementia care manager, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (Westark College) Professional background: Curry has been the CEO...
One year after her death, lawmakers reflect on former House Speaker Melissa Hortman's legacy at the Legislature
Lawmakers across the political spectrum say what best defines Hortman's legacy in St. Paul is that she consistently put people above politics.
There's no question, Melissa Ortiz is officially a BELIEVER
There's no question, Melissa Ortiz is officially a BELIEVER
Man accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker and her husband is due to change plea
Vance Boelter is charged with killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman
AMNH Presents For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence
New York, N.Y. - On May 15, the American Museum of Natural History will open For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence , a special exhibition that celebrates the artistry, history, and cultural impact of the world’s most coveted athletic prizes. The exhibition will open in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery, part of the Museum’s Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, and will showcase more than 70 championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry spanning nearly 150 years of sports history. For the Win opens in advance of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and kicks off World Cup, World Cultures: Celebrating the Community and Science of Sport, a series of programs and experiences at the Museum for New Yorkers and visiting fans from around the world.
Ohio Science Teacher Honored With 2026 Shell Science Teaching Award
Melissa Kowalski, a science teacher at Put-in-Bay School in Ohio, was named the 2026 Shell Science Teaching Award recipient by the NSTA.
Publication Q&A with Melissa Maffeo: Science of the Supernatural
Melissa Maffeo, associate teaching professor of Psychology, spoke with the Dean’s Office about her new book, Science of the Supernatural, published with Cambridge University Press. In it, Maffeo blends research and storytelling to explore eerie phenomena through the lens of neuroscience and psychology. Diving into [...]
What concerts are happening in South Bend area from April 27 to May 3?
Michiana is buzzing with live music. Find out where to catch Melissa Etheridge, The Isaacs and more this week.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
In wake of political violence, states use campaign cash for personal security
The number of states approving this use of campaign funds has more than doubled since the assassinations of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and activist Charlie Kirk.
Eye on the Y: BYU neuroscience student advances science of seizure intervention, Elder Ulisses Soares to speak at April 2026 commencement and Grantwell program gives students opportunities to work with nonprofit organizations
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Busfield awaits trial on charges of sexual abuse against minors.
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Busfield awaits trial on charges of sexual abuse against minors.
‘GMA’: Melissa Gilbert Fiercely Defends Timothy Busfield Through Tears
Busfield awaits trial on charges of sexual abuse against minors.
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Three months after Hurricane Melissa: PAHO continues supporting health system recovery across the Caribbean
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