John C. Fortier is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on Congress and elections, election administration, election demographics, voting (and absentee voting), the U.S. presidency, and the Electoral College. He is also continuing his work on the continuity of government.
Before rejoining AEI, Dr. Fortier was director of governmental studies at the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the principal contributor to the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project. He also has taught at Kenyon College, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware, Boston College, and Harvard University.
A prolific writer, Dr. Fortier has been published in scholarly journals and the popular press, including Politico and The Hill. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, and he has appeared on ABC News, Bloomberg, BBC News, C-SPAN, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News’ “Today,” National Public Radio, and “PBS NewsHour,” among others.
Dr. Fortier has a PhD in political science from Boston College and a BA in government from Georgetown University.
We know it is important to hear from a diverse range of observers on the complex topics we face and believe our commentary partners will help you reach your own conclusions.
The commentaries published in this section are solely those of the contributors and do not reflect the views of Straight Arrow News.
In addition to the facts, we believe it’s vital to hear perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum. We hope these different voices will help you reach your own conclusions.
The opinions published in this section are solely those of the contributors and do not reflect the views of Straight Arrow News.
John Fortier
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
View Video LibraryJohn C. Fortier is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on Congress and elections, election administration, election demographics, voting (and absentee voting), the U.S. presidency, and the Electoral College. He is also continuing his work on the continuity of government.
Before rejoining AEI, Dr. Fortier was director of governmental studies at the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the principal contributor to the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project. He also has taught at Kenyon College, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware, Boston College, and Harvard University.
He is the author and editor of “After the People Vote: A Guide to the Electoral College” (AEI Press, 2004; fourth edition, 2020); “Second-Term Blues: How George W. Bush Has Governed” (Brookings Institution Press, 2007); and “Absentee and Early Voting: Trends, Promises, and Perils” (AEI Press, 2006).
A prolific writer, Dr. Fortier has been published in scholarly journals and the popular press, including Politico and The Hill. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, and he has appeared on ABC News, Bloomberg, BBC News, C-SPAN, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News’ “Today,” National Public Radio, and “PBS NewsHour,” among others.
Dr. Fortier has a PhD in political science from Boston College and a BA in government from Georgetown University.
US elections have become much more secure since 2000
May 2
SCOTUS case on threat of disinformation raises thorny questions
The Supreme Court recently heard arguments concerning government communications with social media platforms in Murthy v. Missouri. Plantiffs in the case claim that government agencies pressured social media companies to remove or restrict posts spreading disinformation about vaccines, elections and COVID-19. Straight Arrow News contributor John Fortier delves into the complex questions raised by the…
Mar 28
Trump v. Anderson is more complicated than it looks
The Supreme Court case Trump v. Anderson will decide whether former President Donald Trump is eligible to run as a candidate for president in 2024. Some constitutional law experts have argued that Trump cannot run as a candidate, citing what they say is a clear violation of the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, which…
Feb 29
Era of Iowa, New Hampshire kicking off election season is ending
In American politics, tradition dictates that Iowa and New Hampshire kick off the election season as the two major parties elect their primary candidates. Recently, however, Democrats have suggested revising this tradition, arguing that Iowa and New Hampshire do not present an optimal, comprehensive sample of American voters, and suggesting states like South Carolina or…
Feb 1
Why the frenzy over Georgia’s voting laws was misplaced
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) changed state voting laws after President Joe Biden narrowly won Georgia’s electoral votes over former President Donald Trump in 2020. Voting advocacy groups responded and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the legislation. These lawsuits alleged that the Georgia GOP in the state legislature aimed to restrict…
Dec 28
Changing speakers isn’t actually going to help Republicans
After three weeks without a speaker and three unsuccessful attempts to secure the required votes for a new one, the U.S. House of Representatives elected a little-known Congressman from Louisiana, Rep. Mike Johnson. But was the decision to elect Rep. Johnson, who leans hard-right and pro-Trump, a wise move for the Republican Party? Straight Arrow…
Nov 2
How a No Labels candidate might affect outcome of 2024 election
Amid increasing polarization in the United States and the anticipation of a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, a third-party organization is gaining momentum. The No Labels group has successfully registered 15,000 voters in the pivotal state of Arizona and is on a path to expand its presence to all 50…
Sep 28
Voting reforms have minimal partisan impact on electoral turnout
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, politicians are questioning whether certain voting reforms may have impacted the 2020 presidential election. After their 2020 defeat, Republicans have made efforts to reverse an executive order issued by the Biden administration, which aimed to strengthen election accessibility. In a counter move, Democrats have reintroduced their own proposed legislation…
Aug 31
Do we need new laws for AI-generated political ads?
It’s the Wild West when it comes to regulating AI-generated political advertising. As new technology explodes, many are questioning whether we need more oversight of ads made with artificial intelligence. Right now, campaign ads don’t have to disclose if they were created or manipulated by AI, and some Democratic lawmakers are hoping to change that.…
Jul 20
Republican demands for changes to presidential debates warranted
The Republican National Committee (RNC) voted to leave the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) in 2022 due to what it perceived as biases against its party. Some critics of the RNC decision believe Republican candidates are simply afraid of tough questions and would rather see Fox News hosts as moderators. Straight Arrow News contributor John…
Jun 15
Debt ceiling standoff between Biden and GOP must end quickly
On Tuesday, May 16, President Biden met with top Republican and Democratic leaders to deliberate on raising the debt ceiling, underscoring lawmakers’ focus on avoiding default. Though Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) rarely see eye to eye, sources say they understand that a deal must be hammered out. Straight Arrow News contributor John…
May 18
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Political polarization has split families, ruined friendships, and even decimated swing seats in congressional elections. It’s even become fodder for a recent M&M’s Candy campaign. It’s also created a contentious environment in Washington. When House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) removed Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) from the Intelligence Committee, Democrats argued it…
Apr 20
Social media platforms need new political advertising rules before 2024
Until recently, it’s been the Wild West when it comes to regulating American political ads on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. But in December 2022, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved new regulations that require some previously exempt online political advertisements to disclose who paid for those ads. It’s a step in the…
Mar 24
Is divided government good for America or bad?
Divided government—when one political party controls the White House and the other controls one or both houses of Congress—has appeared more frequently in recent decades. Before 1968, the government was unified more often than it was divided. Not surprisingly, there’s little consensus on whether divided government, like the one we have now, is a problem…
Feb 16
Why the US should not abolish the Electoral College
The recently-passed Electoral Count Act overhauls the process for objecting to electoral votes. The bipartisan bill is designed to close loopholes that could lead to another Jan. 6-type incident that disrupts the electoral count process. Despite the new law, some still think the Electoral College is outdated and should be abolished in favor of a…
Jan 26
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In addition to the facts, we believe it’s vital to hear perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum. We hope these different voices will help you reach your own conclusions.
The opinions published in this section are solely those of the contributors and do not reflect the views of Straight Arrow News.
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