Does Electoral Reform Increase (or Decrease) Political Equality?

Abstract

Over recent decades, the American states have implemented electoral reforms that make it easier for citizens to register and vote. This article examines the “equality effects” of these reforms: the degree to which reform serves to equalize or further skew participation rates between the rich and poor. Using the Voter Supplement to the Current Population Survey, the authors generate state-level estimates of income bias in registration and voting for elections from 1978 to 2008. Findings support their theory that some electoral reforms promote equality, while others further stratify the electorate—particularly when state registration rolls are already unrepresentative in terms of income groups.