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In the months leading up to our national election, University of Florida students and alumni have been canvassing for local campaigns, phone banking in support of ballot referendums, and increasing voter awareness throughout the country. One on-campus group, the UF Election Lab, has been watching the clock tick until Nov. 5 with eager anticipation, ready to analyze polling data the moment it is released.

The UF Election Lab is a collaboration of students and faculty who meet weekly to discuss voting and political research. The lab’s online platform has served as the premiere destination during the 2024 cycle for timely and up to date information on early voting turnout numbers across the country.

For students in the lab, election season offers a perfect opportunity to get their feet wet in campaign analysis and show how the lessons they learn within the classroom can translate into practice.

Promoting the youth vote

Sandra Ukah, a second-year political science major, said being a part of the lab has opened doors for her professionally and helped her meet like-minded individuals. Ukah first started research at UF through working with Daniel Smith, Ph.D., professor of political science.

“The Election Lab gave me the skills to prepare my own topics and through the University Scholars Program I am now formulating my own research,” she said. “It’s a full-circle moment and the lab has shown me I want a career in elections.”

Ukah is slated to present research on the topic of civic engagement and youth political participation at the Southern Political Science Association Conference in Puerto Rico in January 2025.

As a fellow with the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, Ukah spent the 2024 election season registering people to vote, a mission that has been close to her heart since high school. In 2023, Ukah was in the inaugural class of “Girls Leading Change” honorees. The program, organized by the office of First Lady Jill Biden, recognized Ukah for her efforts in civic education during high school.

Grassroots campaigning

A 2020 graduate who majored in statistics and political science, Jenna Tingum, is the national data support deputy director for America Votes. She said being a part of the lab helped her grow technical skills she now uses in her work every day.

Describing itself as the coordination hub of the progressive community, America Votes works with more that 400 state and national partner organizations. The organization focuses on voter mobilization, grassroot campaigning and protecting ballot access.

“The Election Lab taught me how to approach a singular problem from a lot of different angles, including the technical side, and the implementation side,” Tingum said.

She emphasized the valuable network she received from her time at UF and how she frequently is in contact with former classmates and professors to help provide innovative solutions to election analysis issues.

This election season, Tingum manages all state level data directors for America Votes and helps determine how much programming has been run.

Working locally

Back in Gainesville, RJ Della Salle, a third-year student studying political science, said he initially got involved in the Election Lab due to his love for mapping and analyzing elections. He said the most beneficial skill he’s learned during his time in the lab is that communication is crucial to success.

“Being open and communicating when something is wrong, and even when it’s right, is incredibly important,” he said.

Della Salle said communication is especially essential when being a leader, like in his capacity as a volunteer coordinator for the David Arreola for Florida House campaign this election cycle. From knocking on doors to calling voters, knowing how to speak to coworkers and the community is a key skill I learned while collaborating in the lab, he said.

“Knowing how and when to communicate with volunteers is important to ensure they arrive on time and properly to our events,” Della Salle said. “I would be vastly unprepared for this position if it weren’t for my professors and classmates guiding me through the importance of communication here at UF.”