About me

Hi, I’m Mason Reece, and I’m a PhD student in MIT’s Political Science department focusing on American Politics and Models & Methods. I am interested in better understanding how election systems impact voter participation and confidence in our democratic system so that this knowledge can inform advocacy and directly improve electoral administration. To bring a practical lens to my research, I have served as presiding judge at a Houston polling location and organized a youth voters conference. In my free time, I love riding my bike, taste-testing Boston’s diverse restaurant scene, and attempting to recreate some of those dishes in my own kitchen.

I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rice University with a BA in Political Science (Honors) and Social Policy Analysis, where I earned the Sallyport Award and the Douglas S. Harlan Award in Political Science for my civic engagement work at Rice and in greater Houston. You can find more out about me by checking out my CV here.

I’m currently working on a project investigating the use of professional sports stadiums and arenas as polling locations in the 2020 election. Were stadiums better polling locations than more typical locations because of their convenient location, large space, and expertise managing large events? Did they relieve pressure from other polling locations in the area? Should they be used as polling locations again? We’ve begun answering these questions and more in our initial report, and are continuing to answer them in future peer-review papers. I’m also always interested in new projects, so feel free to contact me if you have an idea!