The Impact of Local-Level Factors on Voter Registration Success

Abstract

In this chapter, I empirically assess the institutional, electoral, and seasonal factors that impact the success rates of voter registration applications during the 2018 election cycle in the state of Florida. I utilize monthly voter registration data from Florida’s Election Division and demonstrate that there is a strong relationship between the timing of voter registration and the overall likelihood of new voter registration rejections across Florida’s counties. The preferred method of voter registration varies significantly over time, with notable substitution effects between in-person and mail voter registration and OVR, indicating that OVR is becoming the registration method of choice as the state’s voter registration deadline nears.