Yael Bromberg in Liberal Education:
The consequences of removing or restricting polling sites on campuses are measurable and significant. My research, which is based on data associated with the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (a Tufts University nonpartisan research initiative), shows that access to on-campus polling sites boosts student voting. Turnout rises by 5.3 percentage points when Election Day voting is available on campus, 5.9 points when early voting is available, and 7.39 points when students have both.
In general, research studies have shown that proximity to polling locations increases participation, especially for young voters with limited transportation or time. Those acting to restrict on-campus voting often cite administrative concerns related to costs and logistics, but political actors are making a more strategic calculation: When campuses lose polling sites, fewer students vote. In close elections, those disenfranchised voters can shape the outcome.
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