Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting
Abstract
We study how distance to one’s polling place affects the likelihood of voting using a geographic regression discontinuity design with data from Pennsylvania and Georgia. A one-mile increase in distance to the polling place reduces the likelihood of voting in person by 1 to 3 percentage points. Effects are two to three times higher among those closest to the polling place. When available, voters substitute to mail-in voting as distance to the polling place increases. In counterfactual exercises, we identify turnout-maximizing polling places. Some precincts have large potential gains in turnout, even when choosing from existing buildings. (JEL D72, K16, R23)
Fields of Study & Subjects
Game Theory and Voting Systems
Electoral Systems and Political Participation
Sports Analytics and Performance
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Economic Journal Economic Policy
- Publisher
- American Economic Association
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 219–255
- Publication date
- 29 January 2026
- Language
- EN