Why the Sky Didn't Fall: Mobilizing Anger in Reaction to Voter ID Laws

Nicholas A. Valentino; Fabian G. Neuner

doi:10.1111/pops.12332

journal article Feb 08, 2016

Why the Sky Didn't Fall: Mobilizing Anger in Reaction to Voter ID Laws

Nicholas A. Valentino Fabian G. Neuner

Political Psychology Vol. 38 No. 2 pp. 331-350 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/pops.12332

Abstract

Since 2002, 26 U.S. states have passed laws that enhance restrictions on voters who intend to register and vote. Most have been sponsored by Republican legislators and passed by states with large Republican majorities. Proponents of such identification requirements argue that they are necessary to ensure the integrity of the electoral system by reducing voter fraud. Many Democrats have cried foul, arguing these laws are motivated by crass partisanship at best, and racial bias at worst, because they disproportionately disenfranchise minorities. Surprisingly, empirical evidence for significant demobilization, either in the aggregate or among Democrats specifically, has thus far failed to materialize. We suspect strong emotional reactions to the public debate about these laws may mobilize Democrats, counterbalancing the disenfranchising effect. We find support for this conjecture in a nationally representative survey and an experiment where news frames about voter identification (ID) laws are carefully manipulated.

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Metrics

96

Citations

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References

Details

Published: Feb 08, 2016
Vol/Issue: 38(2)
Pages: 331-350
License: View

Authors

N

Nicholas A. Valentino

University of Michigan

F

Fabian G. Neuner

University of Michigan

Cite This Article

Nicholas A. Valentino, Fabian G. Neuner (2016). Why the Sky Didn't Fall: Mobilizing Anger in Reaction to Voter ID Laws. Political Psychology, 38(2), 331-350. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12332

Why the Sky Didn't Fall: Mobilizing Anger in Reaction to Voter ID Laws

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