This paper examines the connection between long voting lines, which can cause unequal voter treatment, and election outcomes.
Data & Methods: We leverage check-in records from two US General Elections—2012 (1.03 million entries) and 2016 (1.85 million)—in Florida to identify voters who waited in line.
Key Findings: Minority voters faced disproportionately long wait times during the 2012 election. Those with excessively long check-in waits had a 1% lower probability of voting in both the subsequent 2016 and earlier 2014 elections.
Why It Matters: These findings highlight how administrative features of elections influence voting costs, revealing persistent inequalities that affect voter participation despite efforts to facilitate early voting.
