No Excuses: The Effect of Absentee Voting System on Voter Turnout

Authors

Tigerlily Harrington, Kennesaw State UniversityFollow
April Johnson, Kennesaw State UniversityFollow

Name of Faculty Sponsor

Dr. April Johnson

Faculty Sponsor Email

ajohn551@kennesaw.edu

Author Bio(s)

I graduated from KSU in 2023 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. I have worked and interned for several political campaigns throughout Georgia. I also have done work with various student advocacy and partisan organizations. I am a lifelong Georgian, currently living in Savannah.

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic caused a significant change in the way people voted 2020. Many Americans chose to absentee vote out of safety concerns. However, this process was not the same experience for all voters because some states require an excuse to absentee vote while others do not. This study analyzes whether there is a difference in voter turnout between states with no-excuse absentee voting and those without it. While reviewing voter turnout data for the 2016 and 2020 General Elections, this research finds evidence that turnout was higher in states with no-excuse absentee systems than those that require an excuse. Of the two election years, this relationship was more significant in 2020. The study concludes that states with no-excuse absentee systems have higher voter turnout, which aligns with the rational choice model of voting behavior.