The Conversation

For an estimated 4 million people with felony convictions, restoring their right to vote is complicated – and varies state by state

Written by Naomi F. Sugie, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles

Desmond Meade, right, registers to vote in Florida on Jan. 8, 2019. after completing his sentence on a federal conviction.Phelan M. Ebenhack for The Washington Post via Getty Images

People who are convicted of felonies might think they can’t vote.

Even in California, where they do have the right to vote, people convicted of felonies cite...

Israel’s ban on UNRWA continues a pattern of politicizing Palestinian refugee aid – and puts millions of lives at risk

Written by Nicholas R. Micinski, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Maine

The Israeli parliament’s vote on Oct. 28, 2024, to ban the United Nations agency that provides relief for Palestinian refugees is likely to affect millions of people – it also fits a pattern.

Aid for refugees, particularly Palestinian refugees, has long been politicized, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine...

Rising partisanship is making nonprofits more reluctant to engage in policy debates − new research

Written by Heather MacIndoe, Associate Professor of Public Policy, UMass Boston

Divisiveness is on the rise.wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Afraid of partisan rancor, nonprofits are biting their tongues, with divisive politics hindering public policy engagement by social service organizations. This is one of our findings in a new study we conducted on behalf of Independent Sector – a coalition of nonprofits,...

What to do if your vote is challenged: Practical advice from a civil rights attorney for Election Day

Written by Karen Figueroa-Clewett, Lecturer, Agents of Change program, Department of Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Stickers on a table on the first day of Virginia's in-person early voting, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

With the general election drawing close, it’s important to know your rights in case your vote is challenged.

The best way to ensure that your vote is counted is to advocate for yourself. I’m a civil...

My family lived the horrors of Native American boarding schools – why Biden’s apology doesn’t go far enough

Written by Rosalyn R. LaPier, Professor of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

A photograph archived at the Center for Southwest Research at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque shows a group of Indigenous students who attended the Ramona Industrial School in Santa Fe.AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

I am a direct descendant of family members that were forced as children to attend either a U.S. government-operated or...

Vampire bats – look beyond the fangs and blood to see animal friendships and unique adaptations

Written by Sebastian Stockmaier, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee

Vampire bats have complex social relationships.Samuel Betkowski/Moment via Getty Images

You can probably picture a vampire: Pale, sharply fanged undead sucker of blood, deterred only by sunlight, religious paraphernalia and garlic. They’re gnarly creatures, often favorite subjects for movies or books. Luckily, they’re only imaginary...

LGBTQ+ voters in these 4 states could swing the 2024 presidential election

Written by Dorian Rhea Debussy, Lecturer of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University

LGBTQ+ voters lean heavily Democratic, and they tend to turn out in high numbers.Dani VG via Getty Images

Victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election may come down to LGBTQ+ voters.

Polling data shows that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are running in a near-dead heat in four states – Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And...

Michiganders or Michiganians? A linguist explains why the answer is clear

Written by Robin Queen, Professor of Linguistics, English Language and Literatures and Germanic Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan

Beloved Michigander Aidan Hutchinson is no silly goose.Nic Antaya/Getty Images

Growing up in the late 1970s, my best friend was from Michigan. Early in our friendship I asked her what someone from Michigan is called. “Michigander,” she replied. I laughed and said, “You mean like a goose?” Her older sister then chimed in...

Trump’s anti-Haitian rhetoric reflects America’s long-standing racism against Haiti and its people

Written by Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Professor of Anthropology, American University

Pastor Dieufort Fleurissaint denounces the hateful rhetoric aimed at Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, during a Sept. 24, 2024, rally in Boston.Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe/Getty Images)

Since 2021, about 15,000 Haitians have found new lives in Springfield, Ohio, after fleeing the violence of Haiti, their native country.

But a wave of...

Why do we use gasoline for small vehicles and diesel fuel for big vehicles?

Written by Michael Leamy, Woodruff Endowed Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Green pump for diesel, blue for gas – but what's the difference?Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

Why do we use gasoline for small vehicles and...