An analysis reveals the butterfly ballot used in Palm Beach County, Florida during the 2000 presidential election significantly contributed to erroneous voting for Reform candidate Pat Buchanan.
Data & Methods: The study utilizes multiple methods and various datasets to investigate vote discrepancies. Researchers examined all U.S. counties where Buchanan was on the ballot, with a focus on explaining his unexpected vote margin in Palm Beach County.
Key Findings:
- Over 2,00 Democratic voters mistakenly voted for Buchanan due to the butterfly ballot design.
- This number exceeds George W. Bush's certified margin of victory by over threefold.
- Buchanan received disproportionately more excess votes in Palm Beach County compared to other counties.
Why It Matters:
This suggests that specific ballot designs can have profound impacts on election outcomes, particularly for third-party candidates receiving votes from distressed Democratic voters.
