Migration has emerged as a key issue (sometimes, THE key issue) in elections and referendums all over the world.

The problem is, misinformation is rampant and fear makes it easy to be taken in by extreme stories on both sides. We’ve all fallen for it- a dramatic facebook or twitter post that seems to perfectly confirm your understanding… only to find out that several links away there is no real information at all. But despite claims that we live in a “post-fact” society, there is reliable information out there on migration, if you know where to look.

With a background in research, law and migration studies, Miriam Aced and Christina Lee started the website Migration Voter to provide reliable, fully sourced information on the migration topics that dominate election coverage. Where do the candidates stand on migration issues? What are they proposing to implement if elected? Are their proposals realistic? These are a few of the questions we analyze, by country and by election cycle. We believe voters armed with accurate information make better decisions and are better equipped to hold governments accountable. 

In our talk we'll be discussing our idea, giving examples of ways that the media often fails on the topic of migration, and looking for feedback and ideas from the audience. Join us in figuring out a new way to think about migration and democracy!