Elections, Public Opinion and Parties (EPOP)

EPOP brings together people interested in the study of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties. It has more than 250 members, including media commentators, leading opinion pollsters and national party officials as well as academics. If you would like to become a member of EPOP, you can register here. EPOP members qualify for a reduced conference rate and are eligible to apply for our funding opportunities (below). 

We maintain a dedicated mailing list to keep members updated about activities, research, events and job opportunities that might be of interest - if you'd like to join the mailing list (you don't have to be an EPOP member!), just send us a quick email.

EPOP has its own journal, The Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, which publishes the latest, highest quality research on elections, public opinion and participation, and political parties. The journal welcomes submissions based on either comparative or single nation studies, and has no methodological bias other than demonstrable excellence. 

EPOP Funding and Awards

EPOP provides numerous funding opportunities and awards both in recognition of and to support its members' research in the field of elections, public opinion and political parties. Details of these can be found below, and keep an eye on our Twitter account and newsletter for announcements of when applications open!

Sir David Butler Prize for Lifetime Contribution to the Study of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties  - not currently accepting applications.

Sir David Butler was one of the founding fathers of the quantitative study of elections in Britain and thus the discipline of psephology (which he also named). His influence on the research field of elections, public opinion and parties cannot be over-stated, but he is also one of the disciplines great advocates. He maintained a high public profile through his many authoritative appearances on BBC election night coverage, links with political journalists, and a clear and readable writing through what is now an institution not just for scholars, but for anyone interested in elections and politics: Nuffield Election Studies book series. David was a giant in research, and in public engagement, but also a supportive and inspirational figure for his younger colleagues and students, and an active member of the Political Science Association. David sadly passed away in 2022, and in his memory EPOP has established the 'Sir David Butler Prize for Lifetime Contribution to the Study of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties'. This prize will celebrate a notable scholar either retired or close to retirement, who made a distinctive and indelible mark on our discipline, and who is or was a member or significant supporter of EPOP and is or was predominantly based in the UK.

Given the breadth of David’s contribution, we define distinctive and indelible mark on our discipline broadly, including:

-              substantive contribution whether theoretical or empirical

-              public engagement and advocacy for the discipline,

-              setting up and/or managing significant infrastructure and resources for the discipline

-              educating a new generation of scholars through mentorship and supervision

List of previous award winners:

2024: Prof Michael Thrasher & Prof Colin Rallings

2023: Prof Anthony Heath, FBA CBE

Anthony King Award - currently accepting applications!

Prof Anthony King was another founding member of EPOP who made an enormous contribution to the group's success and to the study of elections and voting in Britain. In memory of Prof King, EPOP has established an annual Anthony King Award to support timely and innovative research in the study of elections, public opinion and parties. EPOP members can apply for up to £2,000 to host an event that brings together academic and non-academic audiences to share and discuss the latest research in our field. Applications can be submitted for the Anthony King Award at any time using the application form at the bottom of this page.

Professor Ron Johnston Methodological Training Award - not currently accepting applications.

Professor Ron Johnston was one of the most outstanding human geographers of his generation and placed electoral geography firmly at the heart of the study of elections in Britain. A long-time supporter of EPOP and a familiar face at EPOP's conferences he educated many generations of EPOP members. Ron’s early interest in quantitative methods and commitment to testing theories rigorously with empirical data made him an advocate for methodological excellence and training in the discipline. Ron sadly passed away in 2020 and in his memory EPOP has established the Ron Johnston Methodological Training Award. This award will help members of EPOP towards the costs of attending a methods training course (of any method relevant to the field of study, quantitative or qualitative).

It is open for applications from any EPOP member at any stage of their career, but we would like to particularly encourage early career colleagues including PhD students and those whose research allowances are not sufficient to cover the costs of methods training.

The 2024 round is now closed. 

EPOP/YouGov Survey Project Award - currently accepting applications.

To support EPOP members with their research, EPOP and YouGov offer the chance for a number of questions to be included into a YouGov survey of a representative sample of the British population, with the costs met by EPOP. This opportunity is awarded on a competitive basis, with priority given to proposals that contribute to the understanding of the British electorate, are innovative (substantively or methodologically), advance the research agenda of early career academics, and come from individuals who may struggle to access funding through alternative sources.

Applications for this award are currently open. We invite applications to include 3-5 question units in a YouGov survey of a representative sample of the British population in Spring 2025, with the costs fully met by EPOP. In addition to the data relating to your questions, you'll also receive data on all of YouGov's standard demographic & political variables (e.g., age, gender, social grade, EU Referendum vote, 2024 election vote, political interest).

To apply, you must submit (to andrew.barclay@sheffield.ac.uk) a maximum 2-page application (A4, font 12) not including the questions or instruments (these can be appended separately - full details of the questions, including wording and response categories, must be provided). Do note that conjoint experiments will not be considered. The application should include the name and career stage of all collaborators, a brief outline of the contribution each will make to the project, and a clear justification for why EPOP funding is required. Applications should also give an outline of expected outcomes associated with the project (e.g., target journal for a planned article). All applicants must have membership of EPOP for 2025 (you can join or renew membership here). All applications must be received by the end of Friday, 31 January, 2025.

For any further questions, please email andrew.barclay@sheffield.ac.uk

David Broughton Award

Prof David Broughton was involved with EPOP from its inception and played an integral role in its success. He was also one of the founding editors of the British Elections and Parties Yearbook, which later became the Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties. David passed away in 2017, and in his memory EPOP has established the 'David Broughton Award', which provides up to £200 to support graduate students in the fields of elections, public opinion and parties to attend EPOP's Annual Conference. 

EPOP Mentoring Scheme

We have a mentorship scheme for marginalised and under-represented scholars, broadly defined. The scheme provides support and guidance to scholars at various stages of their careers which can range from undergraduate through to mid-career scholars who are broadly pursuing a career in higher education. It is designed to help mentees achieve their academic and professional goals, build confidence, and develop a network of contacts within the EPOP community. Do note that neither mentor nor mentee have to be paid-up members of EPOP to participate.

Time requirements. We ask mentors and mentees to expect up to 5 hours of activity per semester (approximately 10 hours across the year). This time can be spent on anything relevant, such as emails, reading work, or meetings. This is not prescriptive, but we want both mentors and mentees to have the same expectations of time. 

For further details and to sign up as a mentor and/or mentee, please follow this link.