Home is Where the Vote Is: A Research Note on the Effects of Changes in North Dakota Voter Identification Laws on College Student Turnout in the 2014 Elections

摘要

A survey of undergraduate and graduate students across North Dakota found that 3.2 percent of respondents who attempted to vote in the 2014 midterm elections were unable to participate due to confusion over residency requirements. Many students were unaware that recent changes in the statea€?s voter identification laws meant they needed to update their addresses thirty days before the election if they wanted to vote in the precinct where they lived. Extrapolating the results of this survey to the student population indicates that 689 students were unable to vote due to residency issues. In addition, 1.5 percent of respondents who attempted to vote were unable to participate due to issues related to absentee ballots.