Assessing the Impact of Changes in Voter Registration Law on Voter Turnout Rates: The Role of Partisanship in Georgia Público

Abstract

   This thesis examines how the relationship between costs and benefits associated with voting affects voter turnout and the two-party vote share in Presidential elections between 2000- 2012. Through examining Georgia-specific data on voter turnout at the county level, I assess the impact of Georgia’s transition to no-excuse absentee ballots, photo-ID requirements, and online voter registration on voter turnout. I subsequently assess the partisan differential that arises from each of the aforementioned changes to electoral law. Through a series of regressions, results suggest that when an electoral law decreases the costs associated with voting, Georgia voters turnout at higher rates. While the majority of models regarding the partisan effects of these changes are not statistically significant, one model indicates that the adoption of online voter registration may have increased turnout for the Democratic presidential candidate. Further research is needed to determine the broader partisan patterns, but the findings suggest that when the costs of voting decrease, Democratic voters in Georgia are more likely to turn out to vote than their Republican counterparts.

Table of Contents

Introduction:

Existing Explanations of Voter Turnout

Benefits of Voting:

Who Votes:

Same-Day Registration

Voter ID

Changing Polling Locations

Registration Deadlines:`

Theory

Partisanship Theory

Methods

Voter Turnout

Changes in Voter Registration Laws

County Partisanship Turnout

Research Design

Results

Voter registration on Total Ballots Cast

Voter Turnout by Partisanship

Partisanship in 2000-2004 Presidential Election

Partisanship in 2004-2008 Presidential Election

Partisanship in 2008-2012 Presidential Election

Additional Controls

Discussion

Implications

Implications: Partisan Effects

Limitations

Further Research

Contribution

Appendix

Works Cited

About this Honors Thesis

Rights statement

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School	Emory College
Department	Political Science
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Political Science, General
Palabra Clave	voting georgia partisanship
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Alex Bolton, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. Hubert Tworzecki, Emory University Dr. Danielle Jung , Emory University

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