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Discount Voting: Voter Registration Reforms and their Effects
In this new book, Michael Hanmer argues that to understand how these institutional arrangements affect outcomes, it is necessary to consider the interactions between social and political context and these laws. He tests this theory by examining how the factors that influence the adoption of a set of registration laws affect turnout, the composition of the electorate, and party strategies. His multi-method research design demonstrates that the effect of registration laws is not as profound as either reformers would hope or previous studies suggest, especially when reform is a response to federal legislation. He concludes by arguing for a shift in the approach to increasing turnout.

Learn how to purchase this book here.
Featured Resources
Bringing Elections into the 21st Century: Voter Registration Modernization (PDF) | AUGUST 2009
The Pew Center on the States
This issue brief summarizes the case in favor of modernization of voter registration procedures. It notes that more than two million voters were unable to vote in the 2008 election as a direct result of issues with registration.
Interstate Voter Registration Database Matching: The Oregon-Washington 2008 Pilot Project | SEPTEMBER 2009
R. Michael Alvarez (Caltech), Jeff Jonas (IBM), William E. Winkler (Census Bureau) & Rebecca Wright (Rutgers), Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project
Exploring the ways in which technology can be better utilized to improve the accuracy of voter registration databases can provide valuable guidance. Researchers undertook a pilot project to determine the feasibility of using database matching to identify voters in Oregon and Washington.
“Making Voting Work” for Eighteen Year-Olds (PDF) | OCTOBER 2009
David J. Motz (Washington State Elections Division), The Pew Center on the States
A mailing campaign undertaken by the Washington Secretary of State focused on registering eighteen year-olds around the state to vote early. This report discusses the results of that campaign.
Paperless Voter Registration: Innovations in Three States | JANUARY 2010
Project Vote
This Project Vote study analyzed efforts in South Dakota, Kansas and Delaware to implement paperless voter registration systems.
Expanding Democracy: Voter Registration Around the World (PDF) | JUNE 2009
Jennifer S. Rosenberg & Margaret Chen, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
This report studies voter registration systems in sixteen countries and in four provinces in Canada, assessing different technologies. From these results the authors propose strategies taken from these countries' experiences that can be applied to voter registration in the United States.
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Research Projects
FairVote
FairVote develops and promotes practical strategies to improve elections at the local, state and national levels.
electionline.org
The Pew Center on the States
electionline.org provides daily news updates on election reform issues, as well as deeper analysis of selected topics, including recent reports on voter registration, recount procedures, and the progress in implementing the Help America Vote Act since 2002.
Center for Democracy & Election Management
Center for Democracy & Election Management was established at the School of Public Affairs at American University in 2002. Their broader goal is to pave the way for and strengthen democracy through improved electoral performance.
Election Law @ Moritz
Election Law @ Moritz, run through Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University, contains both explanation and commentary on a wealth of election reform issues from a legal perspective.
Project Vote
Project Vote is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) that works to empower, educate, and mobilize low-income, minority, youth, and other marginalized and under-represented voters.
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