Jess Esplin (she/her) is a Ph.D. Candidate in American Politics with primary research interests in election administration and policy, legislative institutions, and political parties. Her dissertation traces the evolution of election policy polarization in roll-call votes across state legislatures and Congress over time to understand how and why election rules polarized. An
Elections Research Center affiliate, Jess provides research assistance and organizational support for its ongoing projects: the
National Election Worker Survey and a polling place observation study called
Every Minute Counts: Voter Operations & Experience. Previously, she assisted with a survey of Wisconsin municipal clerks and the ERC’s 2024 Election Symposium. In Fall 2026, Jess is a teaching assistant for PS 311 Congress (with Prof. Eleanor Powell). She previously served as a teaching assistant for PS 373 Introduction to Survey Research Methods (with Prof. Eleanor Powell) and PS 305 Elections & Voting Behavior (with Prof. Barry Burden). Prior to attending UW-Madison, Jess studied economics and psychology at the University of Utah. She enjoys listening to podcasts, playing volleyball and softball, and hosting get-togethers with friends.
