Michelle M. Shafer
banner
michelleshafer.bsky.social
Michelle M. Shafer
@michelleshafer.bsky.social
Election Geek | Pisces | Sunflower Enthusiast |🗳 🐠🌻| Election Technology Communications & Research | Managing Principal, @MagentaSageLLC.bsky.social | magentasage.com |
Pinned
Excellent @electionline.bsky.social Weekly article, conferences, and report from @caltechlcssp.bsky.social's @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social & @washupolisci.bsky.social's Betsy Sinclair. Great work, and great people to work with!
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Great piece by @michelleshafer.bsky.social on the new ETEF was published in today's edition of @electionline.bsky.social Weekly:

Introducing the Election Technology Education Fund
Bolstering trust & confidence in elections by advancing education, research, and outreach
By Michelle M. Shafer
In the news this week, introducing the Election Technology Education Fund @electionteched.bsky.social. That, plus so much more election news and information: electionline.org/electionline...
electionline Weekly - electionline
electionline.org
January 29, 2026 at 7:03 PM
#ElectionGeeks: This will be a really interesting conversation on voting system usability and accessibility between @caltechlcssp.bsky.social Co-Director @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social & Georgia Tech's @mikespecter.com, including discussion on Professor Specter's latest research.
Wed, 1/28 at 11am Pacific: “Beyond the Hype: A Research Driven Look at Claims About New Voting Technology” #ElectionScienceOfficeHours Host @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social, @caltech.edu & guest Georgia Tech's @mikespecter.com. Register: caltech.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 23, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
New real-world field study *inoculating* against misinformation in live social media scroll feeds out in Harvard Misinfo Review @misinforeview.bsky.social

We targeted +375k users with a short ad on Insta using a novel quasi-experimental method (1/3)

misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/preb...
January 23, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Judge dismisses TX lawsuit over ballot numbering, threat to secrecy; Judge says VA violated Reconstruction Era law by disenfranchising certain felons; Chester County poll book error was caused by ‘simple human error,’ investigation finds: electionline.org/news/2026/01...
Daily News - electionline
electionline.org
January 23, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Excellent @electionline.bsky.social Weekly article, conferences, and report from @caltechlcssp.bsky.social's @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social & @washupolisci.bsky.social's Betsy Sinclair. Great work, and great people to work with!
January 22, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
LCSSP at @caltech.edu Co-Director @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social and @washupolisci.bsky.social Chair Betsy Sinclair have an article in @electionline.bsky.social Weekly today. Check out "Building Trust and Capacity to Protect U.S. Elections: Key Insights from the 2025 Election Integrity Conferences":
In the newser this week, Building Trust and Capacity to Protect U.S. Elections–Key Insights from the 2025 Election Integrity Conferences from @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social and Betsy Sinclair. That, plus so much more election news and information: electionline.org/electionline...
electionline Weekly - electionline
electionline.org
January 22, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
In the newser this week, Building Trust and Capacity to Protect U.S. Elections–Key Insights from the 2025 Election Integrity Conferences from @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social and Betsy Sinclair. That, plus so much more election news and information: electionline.org/electionline...
electionline Weekly - electionline
electionline.org
January 22, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
ICYMI: The Elections Group is hosting a phenomenal panel discussion tomorrow (1/22) focused on the challenges of election funding (and what successful solutions might look like). Don't miss out! More info & registration available here:
Encouraging Innovations in Election Administration Funding - Elections Group
The challenges of election administration funding are well-known. Addressing these challenges at scale will require thinking outside the box. In 2025, Auburn University and the Election Center put…
buff.ly
January 21, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
DOGE worked with political group to probe voter rolls, Administration admits; Activists continue to push for paper ballots in GA ahead of midterms; Dallas Co. to spend $1M on education campaign ahead of switch to primary day precincts: electionline.org/news/2026/01...
Daily News - electionline
electionline.org
January 21, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
A new study, which draws on survey data from approximately 3,000 respondents in the United States and Canada, finds that women, on average, exhibit greater skepticism toward artificial intelligence (AI) technologies than men.

www.caltech.edu/about/news/n...
New Study Examines Gender Differences in Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence Risk
How men and women perceive the risks associated with artificial intelligence
www.caltech.edu
January 20, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
1/2 Today's 10/25 Protecting the Election: AI & Governance Conference recap features former Washington SOS Kim Wyman, President of Election Security & Innovation Consulting & was moderated by @caltech.edu's @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social @washupolisci.bsky.social
youtu.be/6lzCnBL7ne8?...
Keynote - Kim Wyman, President, ESI Consulting and former Washington Secretary of State
YouTube video by Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Today, 11/14 at 11am Pacific!
Register at the link below:
1/ The 2026 @caltechlcssp.bsky.social Election Science Office Hours slate starts on 1/14/26 w/ "Inside the 2025 @caltech.edu Election Integrity Project Conferences: Research, Risks & Real-World Implications" hosted by @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social w/ guest @washupolisci.bsky.social's Betsy Sinclair
January 14, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Don't forget: proposals for our new grant supporting research on voter registration + list maintenance are due by Friday, January 16! Review the RFP or submit your proposal here:
Request for Proposals | MIT Election Lab
Practice-Oriented Research to Improve Voter Registration and List Maintenance
buff.ly
January 13, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Protecting the Election: AI & Governance Conference recap- How AI is Changing Elections: Election Technologists

🔸️ S Derheimer Hart IterCivic
🔸️ E Smith MTX Group
🔸️ J Marcotte Turnout Rocks
🔸️ M Coutts Unisyn Voting
🔸️ T Rice WashU
🔸️ @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social
@caltech.edu

youtu.be/h4FjSM1OQWY?...
How AI is Changing Elections - Election Technologists Panel
YouTube video by Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
This Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026! Register today!
1/ The 2026 @caltechlcssp.bsky.social Election Science Office Hours slate starts on 1/14/26 w/ "Inside the 2025 @caltech.edu Election Integrity Project Conferences: Research, Risks & Real-World Implications" hosted by @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social w/ guest @washupolisci.bsky.social's Betsy Sinclair
January 12, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
The @nytimes.com best selling author of Empire of AI @karenhao.bsky.social was a keynote speaker during the Protecting the Election: AI & Governance conference at WashU, St Louis last Oct. Watch:
youtu.be/KeT-av5qaYM?...

@caltech.edu @washupolisci.bsky.social @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social
Keynote - Karen Hao
YouTube video by Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM
This is an excellent panel of election officials! Very much worth the time to watch!
1/ Next in our Oct '25 Protecting the Election: AI & Governance conference at WashU video recap: How AI is Changing Elections: Election Officials Panel. Watch:
youtu.be/Bn6R_AdpZ_E?...
How AI is Changing Elections - Election Officials Panel
YouTube video by Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Spend a few minutes watching this fantastic video that the Academic Media Technologies (AMT) team at @caltech.edu put together that highlights their 2025 work to support the research, events, and people of the Caltech community. 2 @caltechlcssp.bsky.social events are shown!
youtu.be/HFd67yAzkPM?...
2025 AMT Year in Review
YouTube video by CaltechAMT
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Our Oct '25 Protecting the Election: AI & Governance conference at WashU video recap continues! EAC Commissioner Don Palmer talks w/ co-orgs Betsy Sinclair, @washupolisci.bsky.social & @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social, @caltech.edu in AI at the Polls: Promises vs. Perils:
youtu.be/bGVN3DtoVIc?...
AI at the Polls Promises vs Perils
YouTube video by Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Happy New Year! Our video recap of the 10/25 "Protecting the Election: AI & Governance" conference at WashU is here! Video: @washupolisci.bsky.social 's B Sinclair gives Welcome & Introductions, joined by co-organizer @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social, @caltechlcssp.bsky.social: youtu.be/Ou3uEDHsDLk?...
Conference Welcome & Introductions by Betsy Sinclair (WashU)
YouTube video by Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
youtu.be
January 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
All eyes on secretary of state races – with 2028 White House at stake; Hays County, TX GOP joins Dallas County in abandoning plans to hand count ballots; LA secretary of state says 30-year-old election system remains secure: electionline.org/news/2026/01...
Daily News - electionline
electionline.org
January 6, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
TX flags Harris County voter registrations at non-residential addresses; Motion for emergency appeal in Hamtramck mayoral race sent to MI Supreme Court; After quiet off-year elections, Democrats renew worries about president interfering in the midterms: electionline.org/news/2025/12...
Daily News - electionline
electionline.org
December 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Scenes from East Texas to close out 2025. Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉
December 31, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by Michelle M. Shafer
Great stuff from the @caltechlcssp.bsky.social below noting work across 4 key areas in 2025:

🟪 AI & Technology Policy
🟪 BioPolicy
🟪 Democracy & Elections
🟪 Environment & Sustainability

Enjoyed collaborating on the @caltech.edu Election Integrity Project and its many facets this year!
Read our @caltechlcssp.bsky.social Year in Review for 2025 on our @linkedin.com site, and don't forget to follow us while you are there!

cc: @caltech.edu | LCSSP Co-Directors @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social & Frederick Eberhardt (www.hss.caltech.edu/people/frede...)

www.linkedin.com/posts/the-ro...
December 31, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Register today for this 1/14/26 webinar:
1/ The 2026 @caltechlcssp.bsky.social Election Science Office Hours slate starts on 1/14/26 w/ "Inside the 2025 @caltech.edu Election Integrity Project Conferences: Research, Risks & Real-World Implications" hosted by @rmichaelalvarez.bsky.social w/ guest @washupolisci.bsky.social's Betsy Sinclair
December 30, 2025 at 3:43 AM