Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-grxwn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-13T02:23:23.194Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Politics, Race, and American State Electoral Reforms after Election 2000

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2021

Valentina A. Bali  and
Brian D. Silver
Valentina A. Bali
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Brian D. Silver
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The controversial presidential election of 2000 triggered a wide variety of electoral reforms in many states. We examine the impact of a state's politics, ethnicity, and fiscal health on the passage of these reforms. Using state-level data from 2001 and 2002, we find that the partisan make-up of state government frequently influenced the fate of these reforms. States with a divided government or high party competition tended not to adopt several key electoral reforms, while partisanship and the interaction of partisanship and minority representation influenced the adoption of others. Fiscal constraints and institutional arrangements had less impact on reform adoption. Overall, our findings suggest that electoral reforms were shaped more by political factors than by fiscal concerns or any objective need for reform.

Type
Research Article
Information
State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , Spring 2006 , pp. 21 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abramson, Paul R., Aldrich, John H., and Rohde, David W.. 2002. Change and Continuity in the 2000 Elections. Washington, DC: CQ Press.Google Scholar
Alt, James E., and Lowry, Robert C.. 2000. “A Dynamic Model of State Budget Outcomes under Divided Partisan Government.” Journal of Politics 62:1035–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alvarez, R. Michael, and Bedolla, Lisa Garcia. 2003. “The Foundations of Latino Voter Partisanship: Evidence from the 2000 Election.” Journal of Politics 65:31–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrilleaux, Charles. 1997. “A Test of the Independent Influences of Electoral Competition and Party Strength in a Model of State Policy Making.” American Journal of Political Science 41:1462–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrilleaux, Charles, Holbrook, Thomas, and Langer, Laura. 2002. “Electoral Competition, Legislative Balance, and American State Welfare Policy.” American Journal of Political Science 46:415–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, Frances Stokes. 1994. “Sizing up State Policy Innovation Research.” Policy Studies Journal 22:442–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, Frances Stokes, and Berry, William D.. 1992. “Tax Innovation in the States: Capitalizing on Political Opportunity.” American Journal of Political Science 36:715–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, Frances Stokes, and Berry, William D.. 1999. “Innovation and Diffusion Models in Policy Research.” In Theories of the Policy Process, ed. Sabatier, Paul. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Berry, William D., Berkman, Michael B., and Schneiderman, Stuart. 2000. “Legislative Professionalism and Incumbent Reelection: The Development of Institutional Boundaries.” American Political Science Review 94:859–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brians, Craig Leonard, and Grofman, Bernard. 2001. “Election Day Registration's Effect on U.S. Voter Turnout.” Social Science Quarterly 82:170–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchler, Justin, Jarvis, Matthew, and McNulty, John E.. 2004. “Punch Card Technology and the Racial Gap in Residual Votes.” Perspectives on Politics 2:517–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caltech-MIT. 2001. “Voting — What Is, What Could Be.” Report of the Caltech-MIT Voting Technology Project (July). http://www.vote.caltech.edu/reports/2001report (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar
Clarke, Wes. 1998. “Divided Government and Budget Conflict in the U.S. States.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 23:5–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Citrin, Jack, Schickler, Eric, and Sides, J.. 2003. “What If Everyone Voted? Simulating the Impact of Increased Turnout in Senate Elections.” American Journal of Political Science 47:75–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drinkard, Jim. 2002. “Window of Opportunity Closing on Fixing Election System,” USA Today 16 September, 6A.Google Scholar
Gray, Virginia. 1973. “Innovation in the States: A Diffusion Study.” American Political Science Review 67:1174–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, Virginia, and Hanson, Russell L., eds. 2004. Politics in the American States. 8th ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press.Google Scholar
Greco, Donald E. 2003. “Political Elites, Political Contexts, and Electoral Reform: An Analysis of Electoral Reform in the Aftermath of Election 2000.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago.Google Scholar
Hall, Christine. 2002. “Survey of Hispanics Shows Opportunity for GOP,” cnsnews.com, 21 August. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200204%5CNAT20020418c.html (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar
Hero, Rodney E., and Tolbert, Caroline J.. 1996. “A Racial/Ethnic Diversity Interpretation of Politics and Policy in the States of the U.S.” American Journal of Political Science 40:851–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Highton, Benjamin, and Wolfinger, Raymond E.. 1998. “Estimating the Effects of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.” Political Behavior 20:79–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, Kim Q., and Leighley, Jan E.. 1996. “Political Parties and Class Mobilization in Contemporary United States Elections.” American Journal of Political Science 40:787–804.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, Kim Q., and Leighley, Jan E.. 1999. “Racial Diversity, Voter Turnout, and Mobilizing Institutions in the United States.” American Politics Quarterly 27:275–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holbrook, Thomas M., and Dunk, Emily Van. 1993. “Electoral Competition in the American States.” American Political Science Review 87:955–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jewell, Malcolm E., and Morehouse, Sarah M.. 2001. Political Parties and Elections in the American States. Washington, DC: CQ Press.Google Scholar
Imai, Kosuke, and King, Gary. 2004. “Did Illegal Overseas Absentee Ballots Decide the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election?” Perspectives on Politics 2:537–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, James D. 2000. “Changes in Professionalism in U.S. State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 25:327–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knack, Stephen, and White, James. 2000. “Election-Day Registration and Turnout Inequality.” Political Behavior 22:29–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knack, Stephen, and Kropf, Martha. 2002. “Who Uses Inferior Voting Technology?” PS: Political Science and Politics 35:541–8.Google Scholar
McCaughlin, Abraham. 2000. “Shifting Allegiance of Hispanic Voters,” Christian Science Monitor, 5 July, 2.Google Scholar
Mebane, Walter R. Jr. 2004. “The Wrong Man Is President! Overvotes in the 2000 Presidential Election in Florida.” Perspectives on Politics 3:525–35.Google Scholar
Martinez, Michael D., and Hill, David. 1999. “Assessing the Impact of the National Voter Registration Act on Midterm Elections.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA.Google Scholar
Mooney, Christopher Z. 2001. “Modeling Regional Effects on State Policy Diffusion.” Political Research Quarterly 54:103–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). 2005. “State Election Laws and Administration Issues.” http://www.nass.org/electioninfo/laws&admin.htm (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). 2003. “The States Tackle Election Reform [2001-2002].” http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legman/elect/taskfc/TackleElectRef.htm (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). 2004. “The States Tackle Election Reform: Summary of 2003 Legislative Action.” http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legman/elect/taskfc/03billsum.htm (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). 2005. “Database of Election Reform Legislation.” http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legman/elect/Database.htm (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar
National Governors Association. 2001. “Table No. A-4. General Fund Nominal Percentage Expenditure Change, Fiscal 2001 and Fiscal 2002.” In The Fiscal Survey of the States. Washington, DC: NGA.Google Scholar
The New York Times (Editorial). 2004. “Budgeting for Another Florida,” 8 February, 14. Ranney, Austin. 1976. “Parties in State Politics.” In Politics in the American States, eds. Jacob, Herbert and Vines, Kenneth, 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.Google Scholar
Reed, John Shelton. 1998. “The South's Three Personas.” The Public Perspective 9:43–4.Google Scholar
Sabatier, Paul A., ed. 1999. Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Schwartz, Paul. 2002. “Voting Technology and Democracy.” New York University Law Review 77(3):625–81.Google Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 1988. “Career Opportunities and Membership Stability in Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 13:65–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 1997. “Another Look at Legislative Professionalization and Divided Government in the States.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 22:417–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 2000. “Uncontested Seats in State Legislative Elections.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 15:131–46.Google Scholar
Tomz, Michael, and Van Houweling, Robert P.. 2003. “How Does Equipment Affect the Racial Gap in Voided Ballots?” American Journal of Political Science 47:46–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
United States Census Bureau. 2001. “Table No. 23. Resident Population by Hispanic or Latino Origin: 2000.” In Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001. Washington, DC: United States Census Bureau.Google Scholar
United States Census Bureau. 2001. “Table No. 24. Resident Population by Race and State: 2000.” In Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001. Washington, DC: United States Census Bureau.Google Scholar
United States Census Bureau. 2001. “Table No. 429. State Government—Revenue by State: 2000.” In Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001. Washington, DC: United States Census Bureau.Google Scholar
Van Atta, Don Jr. 2000. “Republican Open a Big Drive to Appeal to Hispanic Voters,” The New York Times, 14 January, 12A.Google Scholar
Vlahos, Kelley Beucar. 2003. “Latino Vote Growing in Size and Power,” Fox TV News, 1 July.Google Scholar
Walker, Jack L. 1969. “The Diffusion of Innovations among the American States.” American Political Science Review 63:880–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, Edward. 2002. “Election Reform Bill Is Passed by Senate; $3.86 Billion Allotted for Improvements,” Washington Post, 17 October, A01.Google Scholar
Washington Post. 2002. “Conferees Reach a Pact on Election Law Reforms; U.S. to Spend $3.9 Billion over 3 Years for Changes,” 5 October, A05.Google Scholar
Wolfinger, Raymond E., and Rosenstone, Steven J.. 1980. Who Votes? New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
York, Anthony. 2000. “The GOP's Latino Strategy,” salon.com, 13 January. http://dir.salon.com/story/politics2000/feature/2000/01/13/latinos/?sid=570603 (September 8, 2005).Google Scholar