Voting Rights Project

Democracy's Price Tag: Analyzing Changes in Election Laws and their Effects on Voter Turnout in Midterm Elections

The Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy is conducting research on changes in election laws between the midterm elections of 2018 and 2022 and how those laws have effected voter turnout. The right to vote has been preceived to be under assault in American politics after the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder. After changes to election procedures during the 2020 election due to the COVID-19 pandemic states introduced more than 400 bills to make changes to their election laws in the 2021 legislative session. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to the ballot. With the generous support by our alumni, Taubman is studying the effects of changes in election laws in the states of Rhode Island, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas. Learn more about our project with the content below.

We are pleased to present the Final Reports of the Taubman Center for American Politics & Policy's Voting Rights Project, which meticulously analyzes the impact of election laws on voter turnout in the midterm elections of 2018 and 2022. This comprehensive study sheds light on the dynamics of voter participation and the efficacy of various election laws across different states.

Our research would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our research assistants. Their invaluable work on specific states provided critical insights into the nuanced effects of election laws:

We thank Catalist, LLC for supplying the voter file data that was instrumental in our analysis. Their support and collaboration significantly enhanced the accuracy and depth of our research.

This report encapsulates our findings and offers a detailed examination of the trends and implications of election laws on voter turnout. We hope it serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, scholars, and anyone interested in the future of American democracy.

Arizona

Alexandra Mork ('25) shares her preliminary findings on how changes in Arizona's election laws effected voter turnout. The state of Arizona comprised of 10% of all new election reform legislation introduced in 2021. Read Alexandra's Preliminary Report.

Florida

Hannah Severyns ('23) shares her preliminary findings on how changes in Florida's election laws effected voter turnout. The state of Florida in recent history was seen as a crucial swing state in national politics. However, recently its laws around voting and election procedure have come under scrutiny. Read Hannah's Preliminary Report.

Georgia

Logan Danker ('24) shares his preliminary findings on how changes in Georgia's election laws effected voter turnout. Since 2018 the state of Georgia has been the hotbed of voting rights and has seen numerous close elections that both Democrats and Republicans have won. Read Logan's Preliminary Report.

Rhode Island

Jason Barajas (MPA '23) shares his preliminary findings on how changes in Rhode Islands's election laws effected voter turnout. According to election law experts Rhode Island was one of the states that expanded access to the ballot after the 2021 legislative session

Texas

Mia Hamilton ('25) shares her preliminary findings on how changes in Texas' election laws effected voter turnout. Texas has seen numerous pieces of election legislation pass which election law experts say have been the most restrictive. Read Mia's Preliminary Report.

Voting Rights News & Updates

The Taubman Center wants to keep you up to date! Voting laws and legislation constantly change. Here are some resources for you to stay informed: