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In 2011, South Carolina passed a government-issued photo identification (ID) statute. We examine the effects of this law on overall turnout, as well as for minority turnout in particular. A series of difference-in-difference tests are specified using individual-level population data on registrants with and without ID, comparing the 2010 (pre-implementation) and 2014 (post-implementation) election cycles. The results of our analysis indicate that the voter ID statute did dampen overall turnout. These findings comport with recent scholarship which has found evidence that voter ID laws can lower turnout rates. The size of the effect, however, is quite diminutive. We estimate that initial implementation of the South Carolina statute decreased turnout in the 2014 general election by 0.19 percent. In addition, the evidence gathered on the question of racial effects indicates that there is no discernible racial impact from the state’s voter ID law.

This study examines the impact of the abolition of the county-unit system on the 1962 Georgia gubernatorial election, which provides the opportunity to analyze what occurs when a major upheaval takes place in an electoral system. Methods: Hypotheses concerning this election are proposed Path models are used to demonstrate causal relationships, while multiple regression is used to empirically test the hypotheses. Results: The findings show that the abolition of the county-unit system did have a significant impact upon this election. This ranged from what motivated voter turnout, to visits by the candidates, to what influenced vote choice. Conclusions: The abolition of the county-unit system provided for a massive shift away from rural domination of statewide politics. Beyond simply influencing voting behavior, the urban counties also had a decisive impact on candidate campaigning and voter turnout.4Paths were originally computed as hypothesized, then recomputed with the non-significant paths dropped. Reported R2 is adjusted R2 for recomputed paths. The level of significance for all figures was .001 percent.

Examines a variety of problematic issues associated with the role of chemistry in the liberal arts curriculum.

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