Studies of the Effects of Voter Suppression?
A journalist queried me about whether anyone had studied efforts at voter suppression, such as “the distribution of flyers or use of robocalls in black neighborhoods with false information about election dates, polling locations,
eligibility requirements, and so on.”
Readers, is there any credible study that has actually sought to measure the effects of such tactics? Please leave any tips in the comments.
Comments
I suppose one could run some sort of anti-Gosnell 1927 experimental design, though that would have to entail some rather deft IRB application skills.
Posted by: Jeremy Teigen | May 20, 2008 10:09 PM
There is an essay by Marc Maurer in an edited collection on the link between restrictions on voting for prisoners and felons and low turnout. It's got "the disappearing voter" in the title.
Posted by: Simon Kiss | May 21, 2008 10:10 AM
That would likely be a fascinating study -- albeit ethically challenging if it occurred in the field rather than the lab.
Obviously the felon disencranchisement angle does not quite address the substance of the original inquiry, but Chris Uggen and Jeff Manza have a couple of interesting pieces examining whether felon disenfranchisement laws result in lower turnout. If I remember correctly, their estimates provide evidence of an occasional electoral advantage for Republicans.
Posted by: Eric Whitaker | May 22, 2008 02:37 AM
I just returned from an AEI/Brookings conference on election reform at which Steven Ansolabhere presented some interesting evidence from CCES on voter identification and its incidence. The Election Assistance Commission has posted the comments at the web site listed above (URL:)
Posted by: Bob Stein | May 22, 2008 03:15 PM
There is an interesting study on the expected voter supression effects of proposed legislation in Florida. It touches on the retrogressive effects of proposed changes in the procedure for declarations of assistance at polling locations, challenged voters, and the famousy flawed 'felon purge list'. It can be found here: http://reformcoalition.org/ressources/MDERC%20%20Letter%20Sec%205%202005-2390.pdf
Francisco Pardo
GWU '09
Member, Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition
Posted by: Francisco Pardo | May 25, 2008 10:44 AM