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Making Young Voters

The Impact of Preregistration on Youth Turnout

Bibliographic Data

ID6232585
AuthorsJohn B Holbein (0000-0001-5099-3395, Duke University), D Sunshine Hillygus (0000-0001-9057-3344, Duke University)
Year2016
Volume60
Issue2
Pages364-382
Publication date2016-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0092-5853 • E-ISSN: 1540-5907
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ajps.12177
OpenAlexW2164551012
LanguageEN
Citations received46
References cited56

Recent research has cast doubt on the potential for various electoral reforms to increase voter turnout. In this article, we examine the effectiveness of preregistration laws, which allow young citizens to register before being eligible to vote. We use two empirical approaches to evaluate the impact of preregistration on youth turnout. First, we implement difference‐in‐difference and lag models to bracket the causal effect of preregistration implementation using the 2000–2012 Current Population Survey. Second, focusing on the state of Florida, we leverage a discontinuity based on date of birth to estimate the effect of increased preregistration exposure on the turnout of young registrants. In both approaches, we find preregistration increases voter turnout, with equal effectiveness for various subgroups in the electorate. More broadly, observed patterns suggest that campaign context and supporting institutions may help to determine when and if electoral reforms are effective

Context (archaeology · Current Population Survey · Demographic economics · Economics · Geography · Leverage (statistics · Political science · Politics · Population · Sociology · Turnout · Voter turnout · Computer Science · Demography · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Politics and Representation · Law · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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Unique citing works46
Citations per year4,6
Citation span2016 - 2026 (11)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 46
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