Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research
Article Title
Do the Means Change the End? The Effect of All Mail Ballot Systems and Same-Day Voter Registration on Turnout
Abstract
This research examines the effects of certain institutional mechanisms on voter turnout, in order to provide a possible policy prescription for the ever-decreasing voter turnout in the United States. The voter turnout of general elections from 1994-2012 was measured state by state, comparing those that have instituted same-day registration and/or all mail ballot systems to those that have not, using an ordinary least squares regression model. There was an additional control variable of the number of top-of-ticket races on the ballot in each year, in addition to the institutional variables. The results suggest that the use of same-day registration and all mail ballot systems increase voter turnout.
Recommended Citation
Kehler, Annie '15 (2015) "Do the Means Change the End? The Effect of All Mail Ballot Systems and Same-Day Voter Registration on Turnout," Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 20Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol20/iss1/7