What to Know About the US Elections Heading Into 2024

With the 2024 presidential election campaign season quickly approaching, many observers are already anticipating what may come. Since the last presidential election in 2020, Georgia and Texas made controversial changes to their election laws, which could impact voter turnout in those states. And Democrats and Republicans alike have used complaints about voter suppression or the accuracy of the vote count as a wedge to motivate their voters to the polls — resulting in a rising distrust of elections.

At the third annual collaboration between the Baker Institute Presidential Elections Program and The Carter Center, experts on both sides of the aisle explored these issues and more with a focus on what the 2024 presidential election could bring. In addition, the event featured a lunchtime discussion titled A Legacy of President Jimmy Carter: Free and Fair Elections Around the World.

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Agenda

9:30 am	Breakfast
10:00 am	Opening Remarks The Honorable David M. Satterfield Director, Baker Institute and Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former Ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey
10:15 am	Session I — Effects of Election Law Changes on Voter Turnout in Georgia and Texas Introduction: John Williams, Fellow, Presidential Elections Program, Baker Institute Moderated by: Alexandra Suich Bass, Senior Correspondent for Politics, Technology and Society, The Economist David Becker, J.D. Executive Director and Founder, Center for Election Innovation & Research Mark Jones, Ph.D. Fellow in Political Science, Baker Institute; Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, Rice University The Honorable Brad Raffensberger Georgia Secretary of State
11:30 am	Break
12:15 pm	Lunchtime Discussion — A Legacy of President Jimmy Carter: Free and Fair Elections Around the World Introduction: Avery Davis-Roberts, LL.M., Associate Director, Democracy Program, The Carter Center Moderated by: Major Garrett, Chief White House Correspondent, CBS News Jonathan Alter Journalist and Author of "His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life" David Carroll, Ph.D. Director, Democracy Program, The Carter Center Her Excellency Mary Robinson Former President of Ireland
1:00 pm	Break
1:30 pm	Session II — The Poisonous Politics of Election Denial Introduction: John Williams, Baker Institute Moderated by: Daron Shaw, Ph.D., Professor, University Distinguished Teaching Professor & Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Chair of State Politics, The University of Texas at Austin Ben Ginsberg, J.D. Election Attorney; Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution Barry Jackson Strategic Political Advisor; Former White House Aide and House Speaker Chief of Staff The Honorable Annise Parker Former Mayor of Houston; President and CEO, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute
2:45 pm	Closing Remarks Avery Davis-Roberts, LL.M. The Carter Center John Williams Baker Institute
3:00 pm	Adjourn

Panels

Session I — Effects of Election Law Changes on Voter Turnout in Georgia and Texas

After the 2020 presidential election, Georgia and Texas took center stage in the media spotlight for the changes their legislatures made in the way elections had been conducted in each state. Democrats assailed both states for what they called “Jim Crow 2.0” laws that would hinder minority access and participation. Republicans said the laws were needed to prevent fraud and protect the electoral integrity. In this session, experts analyzed polls of voters and nonvoters in both states to get a better idea of how the laws may have affected voter turnout.

Lunchtime Discussion — A Legacy of President Jimmy Carter: Free and Fair Elections Around the World

Among the many legacies of President Jimmy Carter, his support of credible and open elections at home and abroad provides a reminder of his dedication to democracy and the way public officials are voted into office. During his post presidency, Carter participated in 39 of the more than 100 elections that The Carter Center observed in other countries. Along the way, he played key roles in assisting the democratic transition processes in countries including Nicaragua, Panama, Guyana, Indonesia, Nepal, Liberia, Zambia, and others. In 2005, he played a defining role in shaping elections in the United States when he and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III co-chaired the Commission on Federal Election Reform, the last bi-partisan examination of ways to improve voting procedures. At this session, experts reflected on Carter’s important contributions to democracy both in the United States and around the world.

Session II — The Poisonous Politics of Election Denial

Both major political parties continue to cry foul after losing elections. Democrats claim that state election laws target their voters to hinder access to polls while Republicans complain about the accuracy and transparency of the vote counting and results processes. During this discussion, political observers discussed the phenomenon and explained how both parties use complaints about these issues as a wedge intended to motivate their voters to the polls. The result is an increasing distrust of elections.