2026 Cooperative Election Study
Submit your survey questions for placement on Duke’s national election module for a rare opportunity to reach a large, representative American sample.
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is accepting proposals for questions to be included on Duke University’s module for the 2026 Cooperative Election Study (CES). This is a significant opportunity for faculty, graduate students, and affiliated researchers to place survey items on one of the largest and most widely used national election surveys in the United States.
Proposals are welcome from individuals or groups interested in fielding original questions on electoral behavior, political attitudes, policy preferences, or related topics.
We encourage you to share this announcement broadly with colleagues, collaborators, and graduate students who may benefit.
Submission deadline:
Monday, May 4, 2026
Send proposals to: cassidy.crain@duke.edu
What to include in your proposal:
- A brief description of the project’s purpose and research goals
- Draft question text for all items you wish to include
- Practical guidance
The number of questions any individual or group can include will depend on the total volume of submissions received: the more proposals submitted, the more each will need to be trimmed. Projects requiring fewer than 5 questions tend to be the most straightforward to accommodate.
All respondents will complete a common content module covering standard demographic and political questions. The 2026 draft of this common content will not be finalized before the proposal deadline, but reviewing previous years’ instruments can help you avoid overlap and design complementary items.
The Duke Initiative on Survey Methodology (DISM) is an interdisciplinary hub within the Social Science Research Institute in Gross Hall at Duke University. Founded in 2010 by Dr. D. Sunshine Hillygus, DISM brings together researchers from across Duke to exchange ideas and advance survey research. Open to faculty, students, and staff from a wide range of fields, DISM offers support at every stage of the research process, including training in survey methods, one-on-one project consulting, and funding opportunities. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your approach or connect with others in the survey research community, DISM provides the resources and network to help you move your work forward.