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  5. Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting

òòò½Íø Journal:
Economic Policy

ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)

Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting

  • Gaurav Bagwe
  • Juan Margitic
  • Allison Stashko
òòò½Íø Journal: Economic Policy (Forthcoming)

Abstract

We study how distance to one’s polling place affects the likelihood of voting using a geographic regression discontinuity design with data from Pennsylvania and Georgia. A one-mile increase in distance to polling place reduces the likelihood of voting in person by 1 to 3 percentage points. Effects are two to three times higher among those closest to the polling place. When available, voters substitute to mail-in voting as distance to polling place increases. In counterfactual exercises, we identify turnoutmaximizing polling places. Some precincts have large potential gains in turnout, even when choosing from existing buildings.

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