Protests, Pandemics, and Political Participation: Voter Turnout in Georgia in the 2020 Elections

Abstract

We consider how pandemic-related shifts in election administration and racial justice protest activity impacted participation in 2020 primary and general elections in Georgia. Using a comprehensive statewide voter file, including data on the self-reported race and validated turnout of over 7 million registered Georgians, we analyze the combined effect of these events on racial differences in voter turnout rates, methods, and timing. We find that despite a shift to mail balloting, Black voters were significantly more likely to vote in person during the pandemic than White Democrats. These voters were later less likely to vote by mail (or vote at all) in November. We also demonstrate that Black turnout was significantly higher in the period following racial justice protests in Georgia than it was for other groups. The results of this study indicate how election reforms and non-electoral mobilization can shape turnout disparities even among highly engaged voters.

Does electoral behavior change after a protest cycle? Evidence from Chile and Bolivia

“…Even when the author's model is oriented to explain how protests act as signaling mechanisms toward political elites and leaders, contentious activities can also function as signals to the general population. Just as specific forms of interstate conflicts, such as wars, can provide voters with information about leaders' competence (Getmansky & Weiss, 2022), protest activity draws attention to political issues (Banaszak & Ondercin, 2016;Crabtree & Fraga, 2021) and can generate awareness about issues that may not feature prominently in national media (Tertytchnaya & Lankina, 2020). In this sense, political street demonstrations, including protests and even riots, may have the capacity to affect other individuals' voting decisions since they act as a signaling phenomenon, making people aware of certain issues or grievances that were previously ignored or concealed.…”

Race, poverty and unemployment as quantitative predictors of voter turnout in St. Louis amidst COVID-19 and a racial justice movement

“…During this election, there had been significant decline in participation by Black voters, particularly in rustbelt states (McQuarrie, 2017). Organizers involved in the reenergized racial justice movement aimed to reverse this downward trend (Crabtree and Fraga, 2021; Parker and Hutti, 2022) For many Black citizens, the 2020 election season provided an opportunity to elect policy makers committed to advancing racial justice and health equity (Vaughan, 2021).…”