Policy and Precinct: Citizen Evaluations and Electoral Confidence*

Abstract

Objective The objective of this research is to evaluate the role of state policy and election precinct evaluations on citizen confidence in individual and nationwide electoral outcomes. Methods Utilizing the 2012 Survey and Performance of American Elections (SPAE) and data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, a series of ordered logistic regression models and probability estimates are presented. Results Evaluations of voting precincts, specifically poll workers, polling locations, and voting machines have an effect on electoral confidence. Confidence, however, is not consistent. Racial identification and partisan affiliation continue to shape citizen confidence in American elections. Voter identification requirements, outside of racial considerations, do not affect confidence in individual or nationwide ballot outcomes. Conclusions The administration of American elections effects citizen confidence in electoral outcomes. Reforms in this area have the capacity to improve citizen confidence, trust, and potentially political participation.

Vote Centers and the Voter Experience

“…This reasoning is partially supported by previous scholarship finding that features of precinct polling places such as location, interactions with poll workers, and the type of voting technology can positively or negatively impact voter experience and confidence (Ansolabehere, 2002;Baretto et al, 2009;Heron & Smith, 2013;King, 2017;Pettigrew, 2017;Ansolabehere & Stewart, 2005). Further, the location of a polling place and the distance a voter must travel to get to the polling place can also positively or negatively impact their likelihood of participation in an election (Dyck & Gimpel, 2005;Gimpel & Schuknecht, 2003;Haspel & Knotts, 2005).…”

“…The congruence of race between poll workers and voters tend to have an effect on incidents of provisional voting (Kimball & Kropf, 2008). In light of the disparities that can occur in the polling place, minority voters are particularly impacted by polling place experiences, as negative interactions can even lead to lower levels of confidence in the legitimacy of an election among minority voters (King, 2017). Because vote centers mean that more highly trained poll workers would be concentrated at fewer locations, voters should experience friendlier, more helpful, and more informative assistance by poll workers.…”

“…A negative experience at the polling place can have a detrimental effect on the public's confidence in the effectiveness and importance of their participation (Alvarez et al, 2008;Atkeson & Saunders, 2007;Bowler et al, 2015). This effect is especially important as precinct conditions can have an impact on the overall satisfaction people have with their voting experience, as well as the confidence they have that their vote will be counted accurately (King, 2017;King & Barnes, 2018). The effects of polling place conditions on satisfaction and confidence is especially pronounced amongst minority voters (King, 2017).…”

“…This effect is especially important as precinct conditions can have an impact on the overall satisfaction people have with their voting experience, as well as the confidence they have that their vote will be counted accurately (King, 2017;King & Barnes, 2018). The effects of polling place conditions on satisfaction and confidence is especially pronounced amongst minority voters (King, 2017). There are several variables that can lead to a negative overall voting experience.…”

Voting Experiences, Perceptions of Fraud, and Voter Confidence

“…This research has found that attitudes about the prevalence of election fraud in a jurisdiction, or direct observation of potential fraud, are correlated with voter confidence . But results regarding whether opinions about measures such as voter identification policies are associated with voter confidence is mixed, as some studies find little association (King, 2017), while others argue for an association (e.g., conditional on partisanship; Bowler and Donovan, 2016). While past research has typically focused on voter's overall perceptions of fraud, distinguishing different types of voter and election fraud may be more policy-relevant, as voters in different states may perceive some but not other kinds of fraud to be more likely.…”