Sergio Ascencio

Dr. Sergio Ascencio is a Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of Essex. He holds a PhD from the University of Rochester (2018). His academic career includes roles as Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico (2019–2021) and Postdoctoral Associate at NYU Abu Dhabi (2018–2019).

His research focuses on comparative politics, electoral systems, and political behavior, with a regional emphasis on Mexico and South Asia. Key themes include primary elections, vote buying, political dynasties, and party strategies. His work employs experimental methods and institutional analysis to explore questions of governance and democratic accountability.

Recent publications (2021–2024) examine nomination rules, primary adoption, and voter dynamics across multiple countries. His 2019 study on partisan poll watchers and electoral manipulation highlights expertise in electoral integrity. Earlier work (2015, 2009) addresses issue salience modeling and delegation mechanisms in Mexican state legislatures.

Contact: Email at sergio.ascencio@essex.ac.uk or via Zoom during academic support hours (Tuesdays 2–4 PM).