EDI’s findings are peer-reviewed and published in journals spanning election law, simulation, and ergonomics, including the Election Law Journal, the Journal of Simulation, the Journal of Election Administration, Research & Practice, State Politics & Policy Quarterly, and Ergonomics in Design.
Journal Articles
Fry, M., & Macht, G. A. (2025). The impact of accessible voting technology on the 2024 presidential election. XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students, 31(3), 18–21. https://doi.org/10.1145/3729510
Manion, A., Bryant, L. A., Kimball, D. C., Macht, G. A., Romero, M., & Stein, R. (2025). Ballots and booths: Best practices for in-person voting. Journal of Election Administration, Research & Practice, 3(2), 22–31.
Macht, G. A., Kortum, P., & Byrne, M. D. (2024). A call to arms for American democracy. Ergonomics in Design, 33(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/10648046241297365
Wadowski, G. M., Bernardo, N. D., Jr., King, B., & Macht, G. A. (2024). A comparative study of electronic voting and paper ballot systems in modern elections. Election Law Journal. https://doi.org/10.1089/elj.2023.0030
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., King, B., & Macht, G. A. (2023). Assessing precinct consolidation strategies through simulation optimization. Election Law Journal, 22(4), 363–380. https://doi.org/10.1089/elj.2022.0015
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2022). Assessing minimum accessible voting equipment requirements through simulation. Election Law Journal, 21(4), 259–279. https://doi.org/10.1089/elj.2022.0019
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., King, B., & Macht, G. A. (2022). COVID-19 and United States election systems: A simulation study of in-person voting in Rhode Island. Journal of Simulation, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477778.2022.2155258
McCool-Guglielmo, E. C., Bernardo, N. D., Jr., Lather, J. I., & Macht, G. A. (2022). Impact of facilities layout methods on in-person elections: A theoretical exploration. Journal of Simulation, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477778.2022.2125847
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., Pearson-Merkowitz, S., & Macht, G. A. (2021). The effect of ballot characteristics on the likelihood of voting errors. State Politics & Policy Quarterly, 22(2), 121–139. https://doi.org/10.1017/spq.2021.24
Conference Proceedings
Maier-Speredelozzi, V., Nunes, S. R., Tuttle, C., Limberakis, R., Stabile, C., & Macht, G. A. (2026). Teaching engineering for democracy: Equipping social studies teachers in grades 6–12 to bring industrial and systems engineering principles into humanities classrooms. Proceedings of the 2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. https://peer.asee.org/60742
Swanson, T., Lacroix, E., Hadzor, R., Quesenbery, W., Fearn, A., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Voting in VR: Polling place signage in an interactive environment. Proceedings of the 2025 Election Science, Reform, & Administration Conference (ESRA), Tallahassee, FL.
Maier-Speredelozzi, V., Wadowski, G. M., Nunes, S. R., Fry, M. P., Tuttle, C., Koziatek, J., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Educational module for demonstrating ISE applications in elections to K-12 students. Proceedings of the 2025 IISE Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2024). Exploring process performance of envelope opening and ballot extraction options in vote-by-mail: A Utah case study. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 68(1), 666–672. https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813241274424
Wadowski, G. M., Otte, L. S., Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2023). A comparative study of electronic and paper ballot voting systems in modern elections. Proceedings of the 2023 ESRA Conference, Athens, GA.
Otte, L. S., Wadowski, G. M., & Macht, G. A. (2023). Analysis of vote-by-mail processing: A time study from Salt Lake City. Proceedings of the 2023 ESRA Conference, Athens, GA.
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., Lather, J. I., & Macht, G. A. (2020). Analysis of layout impacts on resource allocation for voting: A Los Angeles vote center. Proceedings of the 2020 Winter Simulation Conference, 3128–3139. https://doi.org/10.1109/WSC48552.2020.9383877
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., Lather, J. I., & Macht, G. A. (2020). Designing for distance: COVID-19’s impact on a Los Angeles vote center. Proceedings of the 2020 Winter Simulation Conference.
Houghton, J., Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2019). Data visualization and voter arrival behavior analytics. Proceedings of the 2019 ESRA Conference: Polling Places, Philadelphia, PA.
Conference Posters & Presentations
2026
🏆 Ahle, A., Esposito, A., Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2026). Signature verification by the clock: Assessing processing times throughout the day [Poster]. Election Science, Reform, & Administration Conference (ESRA), Phoenix, AZ. Winner, ESRA 2026 Poster Competition and the inaugural Dr. Robert Stein Award.
Otte, L. S., Choate, J., & Macht, G. A. (2026). Exploring operational trade-offs for mail sorter systems in the vote-by-mail process [Presentation]. ESRA, Phoenix, AZ.
Nunes, S. R., Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2026). Elections don’t end on Election Day: Post-election processing timelines across the United States [Poster]. ESRA, Phoenix, AZ.
Otte, L. S., King, B. A., & Macht, G. A. (2026). From signature rejection to signature curing: Investigating and visualizing state regulations [Poster]. ESRA, Phoenix, AZ.
Herrera Santos, J., Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2026). Assessing election worker noise training and hearing protection in the ballot tabulation process [Poster]. ESRA, Phoenix, AZ.
Manifold, Z., Pollock, B., & Macht, G. A. (2026). From frontlines to online: Transforming election operations with real-time wait time data [Roundtable]. ESRA, Phoenix, AZ.
2025
Macht, G. A., & Quesenbery, W. (2025). Collaboration and verification of in-person voting signage guidance [Presentation]. ESRA, Tallahassee, FL.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Detecting the curables: Ballot rejections in vote-by-mail [Presentation]. ESRA, Tallahassee, FL.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Evaluation of machine noise exposure in the vote-by-mail process [Poster]. ESRA, Tallahassee, FL.
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Hand-counting ballots in modern elections: Does question type matter? [Poster]. ESRA, Tallahassee, FL.
Nunes, S. R., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Timelines for the retention and preservation of voted ballots across the United States [Poster]. ESRA, Tallahassee, FL.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Election operations meets lean manufacturing: A vote-by-mail systems case study [Poster]. ESRA, Tallahassee, FL.
Fry, M. P., & Macht, G. A. (2025). The state of accessible voting equipment [Presentation]. State Certification Testing of Election Systems National Conference, Washington, DC.
Macht, G. A. (2025). Engineering for democracy: How do engineers support voting in U.S. elections? [Presentation]. IISE Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
2018 to 2024
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2024). Noise in the vote-by-mail process: A California case study [Poster]. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (ASPIRE), Phoenix, AZ.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2024). Multi-level analysis of the opening and extracting process in the vote-by-mail tabulation system [Presentation]. ESRA, Los Angeles, CA.
Fry, M. P., Nunes, S. R., Wadowski, G. M., Macht, G. A., & Maier-Speredelozzi, V. (2024). Engineering for Democracy Institute [Poster]. NIUVT Fall Research Project Review, Groton, CT.
King, B. A., & Macht, G. A. (2023). Administrative decision making: Precincting, resource allocation, and outcomes for voters [Presentation]. ESRA, Athens, GA.
Macht, G. A., Houghton, J. P., & King, B. A. (2023). On the run: An analysis of mobile vote center utilization [Presentation]. ESRA, Athens, GA.
Macht, G. A. (2018). The human factor of voting [Presentation]. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
Podcasts
🏆 Brandt, D. (Host). (2024, October 29). The election process: Fast, accurate, or cheap, pick two (Season 5, Episode 5) [Audio podcast episode]. In Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast. Guest: Macht, G. A. Listen. AZBEE Southeast Regional Gold Award for Online Podcast, American Society of Business Publication Editors.
Brandt, D. (Host). (2020, December 10). 2020: ISEs review a year of resilience and rebirth (Season 2, Episode 9) [Audio podcast episode]. In Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast. Guests: Watts, B., Macht, G. A., & Hobbs, A. Listen
Brandt, D. (Host). (2020, October 22). Easing Election Day delays through industrial and systems engineering (Season 2, Episode 6) [Audio podcast episode]. In Problem Solved: The IISE Podcast. Guests: Albert, L., & Macht, G. A. Listen
Invited Talks, Panels & Webinars
Scott, J., Mirkovic, J., Pollock, B., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Election project highlights [Panel]. Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions Summer National Convening, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Mail ballot math: Engineering tools for vote-by-mail [Webinar]. Vote at Home Institute.
Engineering for Democracy Institute. (2025). Improving elections: Tools from the Engineering for Democracy Institute [Webinar]. The Elections Group.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Mail ballots: Faster verification, better processes, and safer tabulation [Webinar]. Center for Election Innovation & Research and The Elections Group.
Engineering for Democracy Institute. (2025). Tools and support for election administrators [Presentation]. Election Center National Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
Early, M., Hall, T., Scala, N., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Election officials and researchers working together [Panel]. U.S. Election Assistance Commission Data Summit, Cambridge, MA.
Macht, G. A. (2025). Utilizing engineering to sustain and advance democracy [Webinar]. Election Science Office Hours, Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy, Caltech.
Macht, G. A. (2025). Research and practice: Multnomah County, OR [Presentation]. The Election Center, San Diego, CA.
Engineering for Democracy Institute. (2025). PLEJ and EDI: Collaborative projects [Presentation]. Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions Winter Convening, San Diego, CA.
Macht, G. A. (2025). Research and practice: Multnomah County, OR [Presentation]. Election Trust Initiative and Partner Convening, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC.
Tuttle, C., Koziatek, J., Fry, M. P., Nunes, S. R., Maier-Speredelozzi, V., Wadowski, G. M., & Macht, G. A. (2025). Industrial and systems engineers’ impact on in-person voting [Workshop]. TI STEM Super Saturday, Providence, RI.
Otte, L. S., & Macht, G. A. (2024). How engineers support voting in U.S. elections [Presentation]. 48th Annual Fulbright Association Conference.
Engineering for Democracy Institute. (2024). STEM for Elections Network: In-person workshop [Workshop]. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (ASPIRE), Phoenix, AZ.
Macht, G. A. (2024). What’s new at PLEJ: Wait to Vote Estimator [Presentation]. Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions Summer Convening, Minneapolis, MN.
Engineering for Democracy Institute. (2024). Polling location diagrams: Challenges and tools [Webinar]. The Elections Group.
URI VOTES. (2023). In-person voting [Presentation]. National Conference of State Legislatures Forecast ’24, Austin, TX.
URI VOTES. (2023). Tools for election officials [Presentation]. Kentucky County Clerks’ Association Conference, Covington, KY.
Patrick, T., Bernholz, L., & Macht, G. A. (2023). Applying design in U.S. elections [Panel]. Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school), Stanford University.
Macht, G. A. (2023). URI VOTES: Exercising engineering for a sustained democracy [Presentation]. Society of Women Engineers WE Local, Hartford, CT.
URI VOTES. (2023). Tools and resources for election officials [Presentation]. The Election Center, Pasadena, CA.
Macht, G. A. (2021). URI VOTES engineering tools for election administration [Presentation]. Association of Election Commission Officials of Illinois.
Macht, G. A. (2021). Roundtable: Election administration in 2020 and beyond [Facilitator]. ESRA.
Alvarez, R. M., Duchin, M., Macht, G. A., & Stewart, C., III. (2021). Convergence-acceleration in meeting the nation’s election administration challenges [Presentation]. State Certification Testing of Voting Systems National Conference.
Macht, G. A. (2021). Designing for distance: In-person elections during COVID-19 [Presentation]. State Certification Testing of Voting Systems National Conference.
Macht, G. A. (2020). Reflection of 2020 election from a cross-country perspective [Panel]. Boston Society of Architecture, Access Committee.
Macht, G. A. (2020). Enhancing democracy: The power of design in voting spaces [Panel]. American Institute of Architects New York.
Macht, G. A. (2020). Designing for distance [Panel]. Bipartisan Policy Center, Socially Distanced Voting webinar.
Macht, G. A. (2020). Designing polling locations for COVID-19 [Webinar]. Center for Tech and Civic Life.
Macht, G. A. (2020). An overview of URI VOTES [Presentation]. Democracy Fund, National Conference of State Election Associations.
Bernardo, N. D., Jr., & Macht, G. A. (2019). RI VOTES [Presentation]. State Certification Testing of Voting Systems National Conference, Sacramento, CA.
Macht, G. A. (2017). How we can help: Applying industrial engineering to Election Day operations [Presentation]. Rhode Island Elections Task Force Town Hall, Pawtucket, RI.
Student Theses & Dissertations
Houghton, J. P. (2024). Executing advanced algorithms to extrapolate voter arrival behavior in U.S. elections [Doctoral dissertation, University of Rhode Island].
Bernardo, N. D., Jr. (2022). Measuring the effects of system conditions on U.S. elections through simulation [Doctoral dissertation, University of Rhode Island].
Nunes, S. R. (2025). Spatial requirements for the long-term storage of voter-verified paper ballots [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island].
Fry, M. P. (2025). The state of accessible voting equipment: A review from 2000 to 2024 [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island].
Wadowski, G. M. (2025). A comparative study of electronic and paper ballot systems in modern U.S. elections [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island].
Otte, L. S. (2023). Analysis of vote-by-mail processing and tabulation: A time study from Salt Lake City [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island and TU Braunschweig].
McCool-Guglielmo, E. (2021). Impact of facilities layout methods on in-person elections: A theoretical exploration [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island].
Bernardo, N. D., Jr. (2019). Quantification of voting error: The 2018 Rhode Island midterms [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island].
Houghton, J. P. (2019). Estimation of voter arrival rates using electronic poll book transaction logs [Master’s thesis, University of Rhode Island].
