Convenient Turnout: A Case Study of the Indiana Vote Center Pilot Program
Steven R. Hall, Joseph Losco, Raymond Scheele

Abstract
As academics have questioned the efficacy of convenience voting in increasing turnout, state legislatures and county election boards have responded by curtailing the availability of these innovations, particularly early voting. In the article, we contend that the combined use of vote centers, or super-precincts, with early voting offers a potential means of increasing voter turnout and the quality of the election experience while reducing the cost of elections at the same time. We present original data from the 2004 and 2008 elections consisting of a controlled comparison of three Indiana counties with vote centers and three using traditional precincts. Our findings of increased turnout in vote center counties, particularly among those who participate infrequently, are admittedly preliminary. However, because we also find that vote centers substantially reduce election costs, we contend that this issue merits examination.

Full Text: PDF