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Discretionary Power: Local Election Officials and Polling Place Closures in the United States
Bilbo, Andrew W.
Bilbo, Andrew W.
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Abstract
Polling place closures have become increasingly salient in the United States. Much speculation exists regarding the topic, but little research has been done to discover the cause. In this dissertation, I examine the discretionary power of county election officials and how it affects the number of polling places in the United States. First, I start by showing the origin and political development of local discretion over election administration. Second, I examine the relationship between the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and partisanship on polling place closures throughout the United States following the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby vs. Holder. Next, I observe voting in the state of Florida and how race affects polling place closures. Lastly, I explore how county wealth interacts with polling place closures. I find both political and economic concerns drive polling place closures across the United States, with budgetary constraints being the primary cause.
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Date
2022-12-31
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University of Kansas
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Keywords
Political science, Public administration, American history, American Political Development, Discretion, Elections, Local Election Administration, Local Election Official, Polling Place Closures