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The Influence of Initiative Signature-Gathering Campaigns on Political Participation

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  • Frederick J. Boehmke
  • R. Michael Alvarez

Abstract

type="main"> This article studies the effect of initiative signature-gathering campaigns on political participation within a state. Using data on signatures gathered for eight initiatives and four different elections, we conduct grouped logit regression to test whether counties that are subject to more intense signature-gathering campaigns, measured by the number of signatures gathered per capita, experience greater levels of turnout and ballot roll-off in the subsequent election. Our analysis provides evidence that the intensity of signature-gathering campaigns has a moderate effect on both of these measures of political participation. Initiative campaigns influence turnout not just at the state level, but variation in campaigns leads to differences within states as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederick J. Boehmke & R. Michael Alvarez, 2014. "The Influence of Initiative Signature-Gathering Campaigns on Political Participation," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(1), pages 165-183, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:95:y:2014:i:1:p:165-183
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ssqu.12053
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gerber, Alan S. & Green, Donald P., 2000. "The Effects of Canvassing, Telephone Calls, and Direct Mail on Voter Turnout: A Field Experiment," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 94(3), pages 653-663, September.
    2. Joshua J. Dyck & Nicholas R. Seabrook, 2010. "Mobilized by Direct Democracy: Short‐Term Versus Long‐Term Effects and the Geography of Turnout in Ballot Measure Elections," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(1), pages 188-208, March.
    3. Schnader, W. A., 1916. "Proper Safeguards for the Initiative and Referendum Petition," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(3), pages 515-531, August.
    4. Burnham, Walter Dean, 1965. "The Changing Shape of the American Political Universe," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 59(1), pages 7-28, March.
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    1. Hofer, Katharina E. & Marti, Christian & Bütler, Monika, 2017. "Ready to reform: How popular initiatives can be successful," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 16-39.
    2. Katharina E. Hofer, 2017. "Partisan Campaigning and Initiative Petition Signing in Direct Democracies," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 153(III), pages 261-291, September.

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