About:

Professor Smith examines how political institutions affect political behavior across and within the American states. He has published more than a hundred scholarly articles, chapters, and reports, including in the discipline’s leading outlets. A past-president of the State Politics and Policy Section of the APSA, Smith is currently studying how initiatives, redistricting, and electoral laws shape political participation. He is the author of Tax Crusaders and the Politics of Direct Democracy (Routledge, 1998), coauthor of Educated by Initiative (Michigan, 2004), and co-author State and Local Politics: Institutions and Reform (Cengage, 2015). Dr. Smith has extensive international experience, including as Senior Fulbright Scholar at the University of Ghana in 2000-01.

Relevant writing:

“Critics worry Florida’s new elections chief will make the office more partisan” in NPR

“Bill that would put single-member district representation on Alachua County ballot moves forward” in WCJB

“UF professors: Troubling legislative redistricting moves” in Tampa Bay Times

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