Access to Secure Ballot Drop-off Locations in Texas

Authors

Karner Alex
Dana Rowangould, University of VermontFollow

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

5-2021

Abstract

Safe access to voting during the Covid-19 pandemic was a concern across the US. In Texas, a push for mail-in voting during the November 2020 presidential election was significantly scaled back when the governor restricted each county to one secure ballot drop-off location. We evaluate the effect of this change, finding that it increased travel times to drop-off locations for drivers and public transit users by 18 and 32 minutes, respectively, in the most affected county. When evaluated across the state, the policy had a disproportionate effect on eligible Asian, Black, and Latinx voters.

Recommended Citation

Karner, Alex, and Dana Rowangould. 2021. “Access to Secure Ballot Drop-off Locations in Texas.” Findings, May.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32866/001c.24080