Administration of Voter Registration

Overview of the Book

This book examines the dynamics behind shifts in voter registration rates across the states and adopts a framework of collaborative governance with election administration at its center.

Introduction to the Voter Registration Gap

The book starts by introducing readers to the “voter registration gap,” an aggregate measure of variance in voter registration, and demonstrates how it fluctuates between federal elections.

Exploring the Causes of Variance

To explain why this variance exists, the author examines the relationship between federal reforms, such as the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act; and state-level reforms, such as Online Voter Registration.

Analysis of Administrative Practices

Thessalia Merivaki argues that the weak relationship between the two is not surprising, since it hides dramatic variations in administrative practices at the local level, which take place in shorter intervals than the most frequently used two-year estimates.

Challenges to Voter Registration

In closing, she shows that challenges to successfully registering to vote persist, largely because of how, when, and where eligible citizens have to register.