Date of Defense

4-17-2025

Date of Graduation

4-2025

Department

Interdisciplinary Health Programs

First Advisor

Jessica Cataldo

Second Advisor

Robert Bensley

Abstract

Socioeconomic disparities often correlate with lower voter participation, potentially leading to underrepresentation of disadvantaged communities in policy decisions. Lower voter participation has been partly attributed to restrictive voting laws. In 2023, Michigan enacted legislation to expand voting rights, driven by a citizen-initiated ballot proposal that was overwhelmingly supported by Michiganders. The law expanded absentee voting, required statewide early in-person voting, protected voting rights of military members, and expanded options for providing photo ID to vote. To examine whether these voting rights expansions improved voting participation, particularly in low-income counties, this study examined the relationship between county-level poverty and voter turnout and assessed the impact of expanded voting rights on turnout in Michigan's poorest counties. Voter turnout data from the 2020 and 2024 elections was obtained from the Michigan Secretary of State website. Counties’ median household income data was obtained from County Health Rankings for both years. We calculated regression analyses to examine the relationship between income and turnout in both election years and conducted a difference-in-differences analysis to assess changes in turnout among the lowest-income counties following voting rights expansion. Understanding the impact of voting rights expansion on political participation in low-income communities is crucial for health education. By examining the relationship between voting access and socioeconomic status, health educators can develop targeted strategies to empower communities, promote civic engagement, and address health disparities through policy advocacy.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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