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Does canvassing increase voter turnout? A field experiment
1Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University, 77 Prospect Street, P.O. Box 208209, New Haven, CT 06520-8209, USA.
Summary
Personal canvassing significantly boosted voter turnout by about 6% in New Haven. This get-out-the-vote strategy proved effective, particularly for unaffiliated voters, highlighting the impact of direct voter contact.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Civic Engagement Studies
- Electoral Behavior Research
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing voter turnout is crucial for democratic processes.
- Get-out-the-vote (GOTV) strategies aim to increase participation in elections.
- Personalized voter contact methods are often explored for their effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of nonpartisan personal canvassing on voter turnout.
- To determine if the effectiveness of canvassing varies across different voter demographics.
- To assess the influence of specific message content, such as election closeness, on turnout.
Main Methods:
- A randomized field experiment was conducted in New Haven.
- Nonpartisan get-out-the-vote messages were delivered via personal canvassing.
- The study focused on registered voters prior to the November 1998 election.
Main Results:
- Personal canvassing increased voter turnout by approximately 6%.
- The impact of personal contact was slightly lower for major party voters and higher for unaffiliated voters.
- While differences were observed, the hypothesis of equal effect across all voters could not be rejected.
Conclusions:
- Personal canvassing is an effective method for increasing voter turnout.
- Voter mobilization strategies may have differential effects based on party registration.
- Appeals emphasizing election closeness may enhance the effectiveness of canvassing efforts.