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Does motor voter work? Evidence from state-level data

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  • Knack, Stephen

Abstract

Using time-series cross-section data on state-level registration and turnout, "motor voter" registration programs mandated by the National Voter Registration Act are found to be effective in enhancing voter participation in the states that have already adopted them. A "duration" specification for motor voter is introduced as an alternative to a simple dummy variable specification, as the typical length of states' driver's license renewal cycles implies that not all drivers have had an opportunity to register via motor voter until several elections after implementation of the program. Registration effects are estimated to reach about 13 percentage points, with a turnout impact of roughly half of that level. As very few states to date have "mature" programs in effect, most of this potential impact of motor voter has yet to be realized. Little evidence is found that mail-in or agency registration, also mandated by the NVRA, affect participation rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Knack, Stephen, 1993. "Does motor voter work? Evidence from state-level data," MPRA Paper 28079, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 1994.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:28079
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/28079/1/MPRA_paper_28079.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kelley, Stanley & Ayres, Richard E. & Bowen, William G., 1967. "Registration and Voting: Putting First Things First," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 359-379, June.
    2. Knack, Stephen, 1993. "The Voter Participation Effects of Selecting Jurors from Registration Lists," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(1), pages 99-114, April.
    3. Rosenstone, Steven J. & Wolfinger, Raymond E., 1978. "The Effect of Registration Laws on Voter Turnout," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 72(1), pages 22-45, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard B. Freeman, 2003. "What, Me Vote?," NBER Working Papers 9896, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Dee, Thomas S., 2004. "Are there civic returns to education?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(9-10), pages 1697-1720, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    voting; elections;

    JEL classification:

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

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