What the study found
The study found that a polling place farther away is linked to lower in-person voting. A one-mile increase in distance reduced the likelihood of voting in person by about 1 to 3 percentage points.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors suggest that polling place location affects the cost of voting, with distance making in-person voting less likely. They also conclude that some precincts may have turnout-maximizing polling places, even when only existing buildings are considered.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a geographic regression discontinuity design, which compares outcomes near geographic boundaries, with data from Pennsylvania and Georgia. They studied how distance to a polling place affected the likelihood of voting and also examined counterfactual exercises to identify turnout-maximizing polling places.
What worked and what didn't
A one-mile increase in polling-place distance reduced in-person voting by 1 to 3 percentage points. The effects were two to three times larger among people closest to the polling place, and when mail-in voting was available, some voters switched to that option as distance increased.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the states studied and the voting settings examined. The findings are based on Pennsylvania and Georgia, and the turnout-maximizing results come from counterfactual exercises rather than observed changes.
Key points
- A one-mile increase in distance to the polling place lowered in-person voting by 1 to 3 percentage points.
- The effect was two to three times larger for people closest to the polling place.
- When mail-in voting was available, some voters substituted away from in-person voting as distance increased.
- The study used a geographic regression discontinuity design with data from Pennsylvania and Georgia.
- Some precincts were identified as having potential turnout gains from different polling place choices.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Longer polling-place distance lowers in-person voting
- Authors:
- Gaurav R Bagwe, Juan Margitic, Allison Stashko
- Institutions:
- Emory University
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-29
- DOI:
- 10.1257/pol.20220435
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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