A Buoy in the Storm: Election Administration as Public Administration in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

Abstract

In this paper, we leverage insights from an MPA class in election administration at a mid-sized university to learn more about the practice of election administration as public administration in a crisis. Students interviewed election administrators in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Substantively, the results demonstrate that election administrators are critical to a well-functioning democracy and can help mitigate problems introduced by disasters. In terms of curriculum design, the paper demonstrates that election administration courses have a great deal to offer MPA students and public affairs education. From a course design perspective, the success of the assignment and the insights gained about election administration as public administration shows the value of using place-based assignments to aide student learning in public administration courses.