The Case for Alternative Voting Methods: The Impact of State Electoral Laws on Voter Turnout
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Date
2020-12
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Abstract
State laws determine alternative voting options and play a role in U.S. voter turnout as a result. Studies of voter turnout focus on voter registration, access, and mobilization factors aggregated at the national level. However, there are limitations when not accounting for voter options and other state-level variables. This study uses multiple regression to demonstrate that no-excuse absentee voting, the early voting period, and the voter registration closing period significantly and positively impact voter turnout across states during the 2016 presidential election. The model considers demographic variables like age, education, and race along with mobilization variables like state campaign finance and the presence of gubernatorial and senate races. After controlling for these variables, states with no-excuse absentee voting, longer early voting periods, and voter registration deadlines closer to election day had higher voter turnout during the 2016 election. This evidence supports the cost-benefit voting theory that if the cost to vote is lowered, more people will vote.
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voting, state laws, presidential election, voter turnout, voting methods