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Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting

Gaurav R Bagwe et al.

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy2026https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20220435article
AJG 3ABDC A*
Weight
0.37

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)

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20220435

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@article{gaurav2026,
  title        = {{Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting}},
  author       = {Gaurav R Bagwe et al.},
  journal      = {American Economic Journal: Economic Policy},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20220435},
}

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Polling Place Location and the Costs of Voting

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Evidence weight

0.37

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.16 × 0.4 = 0.06
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.