Department of Political Science at BGSU conducting, sharing Ohio voter polling this fall

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – This fall, students have the opportunity to contribute to research regarding November's election alongside Dr. Robert Alexander in the Democracy and Public Policy Research Network of the Department of Political Science at Bowling Green State University.

The network at BGSU is conducting two non-partisan polls of Ohio voters ahead of Election Day. The first was sent in September while the second is set for distribution this month.

YouGov, a well-known international online research data and analytics technology group, is gathering data regarding the November election, citizen thoughts on the current political climate and opinions about political figures and political parties. Questions are sent through online surveys via email and text messages.

“We are a nonpartisan network,” said Alexander, founding director of the Democracy and Public Policy Research Network. “The data we collect will be used to help inform future research, journalists and policymakers. We also aim to help voters make informed decisions before heading to the polls.”

The five-person team in the BGSU Department of Political Science is developing, ordering, testing and analyzing questions for the polls. Students are also learning the processes behind public opinion polling and assisting with data collection and analysis.

With his research previously cited before the U.S. Supreme Court, Alexander has been interviewed by national news outlets, published numerous national columns and accumulated more than 20 years of experience as an award-winning teacher and scholar. He joins BGSU from Ohio Northern University, where he served as a professor of political science and the founding director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy.

As the network expands its research, Alexander plans to further increase student involvement in future polls, public engagement and additional aspects relating to the democratic process.

“I see this as an opportunity to provide our students with hands-on experiences, learning and research,” Alexander said. “Our network will empower students to engage in public opinion polling, write policy briefs and engage in development activities."