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Estimating Voter Registration Deadline Effects with Web Search Data

Author

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  • Street, Alex
  • Murray, Thomas A.
  • Blitzer, John
  • Patel, Rajan S.

Abstract

Electoral rules have the potential to affect the size and composition of the voting public. Yet scholars disagree over whether requiring voters to register well in advance of Election Day reduces turnout. We present a new approach, using web searches for “voter registration†to measure interest in registering, both before and after registration deadlines for the 2012 U.S. presidential election. Many Americans sought information on “voter registration†even after the deadline in their state had passed. Combining web search data with evidence on the timing of registration for 80 million Americans, we model the relationship between search and registration. Extrapolating this relationship to the post-deadline period, we estimate that an additional 3–4 million Americans would have registered in time to vote, if deadlines had been extended to Election Day. We test our approach by predicting out of sample and with historical data. Web search data provide new opportunities to measure and study information-seeking behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Street, Alex & Murray, Thomas A. & Blitzer, John & Patel, Rajan S., 2015. "Estimating Voter Registration Deadline Effects with Web Search Data," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(2), pages 225-241, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:polals:v:23:y:2015:i:02:p:225-241_01
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    Cited by:

    1. Droste, Nils & Becker, Claudia & Ring, Irene & Santos, Rui, 2017. "Decentralization effects in ecological fiscal transfers: The case of Portugal," UFZ Discussion Papers 3/2017, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Division of Social Sciences (ÖKUS).
    2. Carisa Bergner & Bruce A. Desmarais & John Hird, 2019. "Speaking truth in power: Scientific evidence as motivation for policy activism," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 2(1).
    3. Nils Droste & Claudia Becker & Irene Ring & Rui Santos, 2018. "Decentralization Effects in Ecological Fiscal Transfers: A Bayesian Structural Time Series Analysis for Portugal," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 71(4), pages 1027-1051, December.
    4. Wennberg, Karl & Anderson, Brian S., 2020. "Editorial: Enhancing the exploration and communication of quantitative entrepreneurship research," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).

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