Realizing the promise of democracy
We bring people together to explore and build solutions to the greatest challenges facing democracy.
Featured
Civic Cornerstone Fellowship at UVA
The Karsh Institute’s CCF offers a sustained, formative experience unlike any other at UVA, treating dialogue as a character-shaping practice rather than simply a set of communication skills.
Election Consolidation and Scheduling in the Commonwealth
A report prepared for the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Subcommittee to Study the Consolidation and Scheduling of General Elections in Virginia by UVA's Karsh Institute of Democracy.
50 Constitutions
The 50 Constitutions Project is a landmark effort to document and digitize the full history of every state constitution in the United States—many for the first time in an accessible format.
Events
After the Declaration
Author T. H. Breen explores how an American case against a British general provided the setting for the new nation to assert its political and cultural independence.
Listening to the Law: An Evening With Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett discusses her new book, offering her thoughts on legal interpretation, the role of the judiciary, and the broader relationship between society and the rule of law.
Looking for past events?
View ArchiveIn the News
Lawmakers in Richmond May Change When We Elect the Governor
“Turnout increases with consolidation. We see this in other states, and we’ve seen this in Virginia," the Karsh Institute's Jessica Kimpell Johnson told elected officials. "And we have data on this for you."
www.wvtf.org
Virginia Lawmakers Weigh Ending State’s Off-Year Elections
Virginia’s closely watched off-year elections have long made the state a national political bellwether, but lawmakers are considering moving them, based on a new study from the Karsh Institute.
richmond.com
Virginia Leaders Considering Common-Sense Change to State Election Schedules
UVA's Karsh Institute of Democracy presented the results of a poll of 1,000 Virginia residents to a Virginia legislative panel showing that changing the election calendar would get 42 percent of us to be more likely to vote in state elections.
augustafreepress.com
Lawmakers Debate Consolidating Virginia Elections
Should Virginia keep having elections every single year or align them with the federal schedule? A new study from the Karsh Institute provided lawmakers with solid research so they can make an informed decision.
www.12onyourside.com