Data and Code for: Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting

Code and Data for Replication of "Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting"<br>Abstract: We study how distance to one's polling place affects the likelihood of voting using a geographic regression discontinuity design with data from Pennsylvania and Georgia. A one-mile increase in distance to polling place reduces the likelihood of voting in person by 1 to 3 percentage points. Effects are two to three times higher among those closest to the polling place. When available, voters substitute to mail-in voting as distance to polling place increases. In counterfactual exercises, we identify turnout-maximizing polling places. Some precincts have large potential gains in turnout, even when choosing from existing buildings.

《投票站选址与投票成本》一文复现所用代码与数据集<br>摘要：本研究依托宾夕法尼亚州与佐治亚州的相关数据，采用地理断点回归设计（geographic regression discontinuity design），分析选民至投票站的距离对其投票参与概率的影响。研究发现，投票站距离每增加1英里，选民的现场投票参与率将降低1至3个百分点；在距离投票站最近的选民群体中，该影响效应的强度提升2至3倍。随着投票站距离增加，若可使用邮寄投票渠道，选民会转而选择邮寄投票方式。在反事实模拟实验中，我们筛选出了可最大化投票参与率的投票站选址方案；部分选区即便仅依托现有建筑调整投票站选址，仍可实现投票参与率的大幅提升。