Journal article
Waiting to vote safely: How Covid-19 safety measures shaped in-person voter wait times during the 2020 election
Social science quarterly, Vol.103(2), pp.380-398
03/01/2022
DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13124
PMCID: PMC9115441
PMID: 35602178
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Objective The aim of this article is to assess the impact of Covid-19 safety measures on voter wait times during the 2020 U.S. election. Methods Multinomial logistic regression models predicting voter wait times contingent on the presence of Covid safety measures: poll workers wearing face coverings, protective barriers separating voters and workers, voters and booths socially distanced, hand sanitizer, single-use ballot marking pens, and cleaning voting booths between voters, as well as an additive index of these measures. Results Findings suggest Covid-safety measures significantly affected voter wait times. Effects vary by Covid safety feature, with face coverings, barriers, social distancing, and cleaning booths increasing voter wait times (typically around 10-30 min), single-use pens decreasing voter wait times, and hand sanitizer having no effect. Results are further confirmed using an additive index. Conclusion Covid safety features likely increased voter wait times during the 2020 U.S. election, potentially accounting for a portion of the increased voter wait time, compared to previous elections.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Waiting to vote safely: How Covid-19 safety measures shaped in-person voter wait times during the 2020 election
- Creators
- Joseph Coll - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Social science quarterly, Vol.103(2), pp.380-398
- DOI
- 10.1111/ssqu.13124
- PMID
- 35602178
- PMCID
- PMC9115441
- NLM abbreviation
- Soc Sci Q
- ISSN
- 0038-4941
- eISSN
- 1540-6237
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 19
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Political Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984322346302771
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