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Determinants of Geographic Differentials in the Voter Participation Rate

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  • Richard Cebula
  • Michael Toma

Abstract

Voter participation rates vary widely across the 50 states. This empirical study seeks, within the context of a broadened version of the ‘rational voter model,’ to identify determinants of this interstate variation. Using the 2004 general election as the study period, it is found that the voter participation rate in a state is positively related to the percent of the state's adult population with at least a high school education, the state's unemployment rate, the percent of the state's population age 65 and older, and the female labor force participation rate in the state. In addition, it is found that voter turnout in a state is negatively related to the state's median family income and the percentage of its population that is Hispanic. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2006

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Cebula & Michael Toma, 2006. "Determinants of Geographic Differentials in the Voter Participation Rate," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 34(1), pages 33-40, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:34:y:2006:i:1:p:33-40
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-006-6118-6
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    5. Richard Cebula, 2004. "Expressiveness and voting: Alternative evidence," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 32(3), pages 216-221, September.
    6. Timothy J. Feddersen, 2004. "Rational Choice Theory and the Paradox of Not Voting," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 18(1), pages 99-112, Winter.
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    8. Barreto, Matt A. & Segura, Gary M. & Woods, Nathan D., 2004. "The Mobilizing Effect of Majority–Minority Districts on Latino Turnout," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 98(1), pages 65-75, February.
    9. Thomas Schwartz, 1987. "Your vote counts on account of the way it is counted: An institutional solution to the paradox of not voting," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 101-121, January.
    10. Katherine Swartz, 2003. "Reinsuring Risk to Increase Access to Health Insurance," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(2), pages 283-287, May.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Richard Cebula & Christopher Coombs, 2008. "Recent Evidence on Factors Influencing the Female Labor Force Participation Rate," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 272-284, September.
    2. Richard Cebula & Franklin Mixon, 2012. "Dodging the vote?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 325-343, February.
    3. Ali Akarca & Aysit Tansel, 2015. "Impact of internal migration on political participation in Turkey," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Yongil Jeon & Stephen M. Miller, 2002. "Explaining U.S. Commercial Bank Births, Deaths, and Marriages," Working papers 2002-27, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    5. Yongil Jeon & Stephen M. Miller, 2002. "Has Deregulation Affected Births, Deaths, and Marriages in the U.S. Commercial Banking Industry?," Working papers 2002-26, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    6. Ira Saltz, 1997. "Federal deposit insurance coverage and bank failures: A cointegration analysis with semi-annual data, 1965–91," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 21(3), pages 3-9, September.
    7. Tim Powlowski & Dennis Coates, 2013. "The habit for voting, “civic duty” and travel distance," UMBC Economics Department Working Papers 13-05, UMBC Department of Economics.
    8. Richard Cebula, 2002. "Net interstate population growth rates and the Tiebout-Tullock hypothesis: New empirical evidence, 1990–2000," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 30(4), pages 414-421, December.
    9. Richard J. Cebula & Christopher M. Duquette & Franklin G. Mixon, 2013. "Battleground states and voter participation in US presidential elections: an empirical test," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(26), pages 3795-3799, September.
    10. Richard Cebula & Holly Meads, 2008. "An Inquiry into the Contemporary Differential between Female and Male Voter Turnouts," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 36(3), pages 301-313, September.
    11. Richard J. Cebula & James E. Payne & Ira S. Saltz, 2017. "Determinants of Geographic Voter Participation Rate Differentials: the 2014 Mid-Term Election," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 45(1), pages 35-43, March.
    12. John Gibson & Bonggeun Kim & Steven Stillman & Geua Boe-Gibson, 2013. "Time to vote?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 156(3), pages 517-536, September.
    13. Cebula, Richard & Lawson, Luther, 2004. "Teaching in Public Choice Courses How Direct Democracy Can Influence Voting Behavior," MPRA Paper 53163, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Richard Cebula, 2008. "Influence of the Number of Statewide Referenda Involving Emotionally-Charged Issues on Voter Turnout, 2006," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 36(4), pages 383-393, December.
    15. Cebula, Richard, 1999. "Determinants of the Rate of Return on Commercial Bank Assets, 1933-1998," MPRA Paper 61414, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Cebula, Richard & Coombs, Christopher, 2008. "Factors Influencing Interregional Differentials in the Voter Participation Rate in the U.S., 2006," MPRA Paper 56786, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    D72;

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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