Voter turnout in local elections is paradoxical. It is where government is closest to those governed and where many first become politically active; yet, it is also where political participation in the form of voting is the lowest. If high participation is an indicator of a healthy democracy, then what can be done to increase participation at the local level? Early voting has long been perceived to increase voter turnout, and there is evidence to suggest that early voting does have an impact on turnout. A majority of early voting scholarship, however, focuses on turnout at the national or state level. What is not clear is how early voting influences turnout at the local level. In the wake of partisan controversy surrounding early voting policies and the reduction of early voting periods in many states, it is important to understand the impact of such policies on all types of elections. Localities are the bedrock of American democracy. Understanding what factors could increase turnout at the local level-where it is devastatingly low-provides valuable insight on local participation, election administration, and early voting laws for scholars and decision-makers alike.
"This timely book delivers some well-deserved attention to local government and municipal elections. The main findings, that early voting does not increase turnout in local elections, will give election observers and reformers something to think about."
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David C. Kimball
, University of Missouri - St. Louis, Missouri, USA
"Gayle Alberda advances our theoretical and substantive knowledge on the impacts of early in-person voting periods on the low information, low exposure, and low turnout contexts that are municipal elections, and advises caution on pinning democratic hopes on innovations like early in-person voting periods."
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Kyle Saunders
, Professor, Department of Political Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
"Professor Alberda's systematic analysis fills an important gap in our understanding of this issue. Her findings should give pause to those who think that early voting is a panacea to our participationproblem in the United States. Scholars and voting advocates alike should pay attention to this important book."
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Brady Baybeck
, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Early voting has transformed Election Day, which has profound effects on voter turnout. An analysis of this popular election reform indicates the relationship between early voting and turnout is incredibly complex. As the findings of this book reveal, early voting lowers turnout in local elections. With the growing partisan controversy surrounding early voting policies and the decrease of early voting periods in many states, understanding the relationship between early voting and turnout is paramount, especially in local elections where turnout is devastatingly low.
Gayle A. Alberda
is Assistant Professor of Politics and MPA Director at Fairfield University, USA.
