American opinion: Studies show turnout gain with easy voting
Increasing voter turnout should be a goal of democratic government.
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Increasing voter turnout should be a goal of democratic government.
New studies of laws that make it easier to vote offer good news for both Democrats and Republicans.
When every registered voter gets sent a ballot in the mail — a system known as universal vote-by-mail — voting rates tend to rise, numerous studies have found. Advocates for mail voting say these findings haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.
Lately, a rough consensus has emerged among people who study the impact of voting policies: Though they often spark fierce partisan fighting, most changes to voting laws do little to affect overall turnout, much less election results.
Still, over 20 states have sought to restrict mail voting since 2020. Ohio has shortened the timeframe to apply for mail ballots and imposed new signature requirements.