Date of Defense

4-17-2025

Date of Graduation

4-2025

Department

Interdisciplinary Health Programs

First Advisor

Robert Bensley

Second Advisor

Jessica Cataldo

Third Advisor

Mark Kelley

Abstract

Socioeconomic disparities often correlate with lower voter participation, potentially leading to underrepresentation of disadvantaged communities in policy decisions. Michigan's recent voting rights expansion aims to increase accessibility and participation. This study examined the relationship between county-level poverty and voter turnout and assesses the impact of expanded voting rights on turnout in Michigan's poorest counties. We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing voter turnout data from the 2020 and 2024 elections, obtained from the Michigan Secretary of State website. Counties’ median household income data were obtained from County Health Rankings to identify high- and low-income counties. We conducted a correlation analysis to examine the relationship between year and voter turnout. Additionally, we conducted a difference-in-differences analysis to assess changes in turnout among the lowest-income counties following voting rights expansion. There was no significant relationship between year and voter turnout. There was also no significant interaction effect was found between year and voting turnout based on income, though the increase in voter turnout from 2020 to 2024 was greater in high-income counties compared to low-income counties. Factors like the sociopolitical climate outside of voting access may also impact voter turnout. While these findings do not suggest that expanding access reduces participation, they highlight the need for further research into the specific challenges that prevent low-income communities from voting at higher rates.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

Additional Files
Emily Tuller Thesis Reflection.pdf (61 kB)
Reflection
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