Bill Lacy is hoping people aren’t sick of hearing about elections.

Lacy, director of the Dole Institute of Politics, is helping to organize three roundtable discussions this month to discuss state and national elections.

“I think there’s a lot of interest in what happens and why it happens,” Lacy said.

The panels include experts on state and national politics, including practitioners.

The events will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Dole Institute, on KU’s west campus. They are free and open to the public.

The lineup is:

• Tuesday, “National Elections 2004: What Happened? What’s Next?”

Panelists will be Neil Newhouse, partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies in Alexandria, Va., which provided polling information for four new Republican senators; Michele Stockwell, a KU graduate who is director of social and family policy for the Democratic Leadership Council’s Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.; Steven Jacques, former advance and communications adviser to John Kerry’s presidential campaign; and Lacy, who served as a campaign strategist for former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, among others.

Laura Lorson, host and producer for Kansas Public Radio, will serve as moderator.

• Dec. 13, “High-Tech Politics: Elections 2004 and Beyond.”

Panelists will be Mary Banwart, a KU assistant professor of communication studies; Rob Curley, director of new media and convergence for the World Company, which owns the Journal-World; and Don Haider-Markel, KU associate professor of political science.

Lacy will serve as moderator.

• Dec. 14, “Kansas Elections 2004: Outlook for 2006.”

Panelists will be Lew Ferguson, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents and a former Associated Press political reporter; State Sen. Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan; Sarah Kessinger, senior reporter for Harris News Service; Jim McLean, special assistant to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius; and David Kensinger, campaign strategist and former chief of staff for U.S. Sen Sam Brownback.

Moderator will be Peter Hancock, Statehouse bureau chief for Kansas Public Radio.