I understand that voter ID can disenfranchise certain US citizens from voting in the USA. But does it have any significant effects on US presidential elections that occurred in the 21st century? Does it have stronger influences local and state elections to go more in favor of Republicans vs presidential ones in the 21st century?
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I understand that voter ID can disenfranchise certain US citizens from voting in the USA. But does it have any significant effects on US presidential elections that occurred in the 21st century? Does it have stronger influences local and state elections to go more in favor of Republicans vs presidential ones in the 21st century?
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I think there are a few somewhat opposing dynamics here. On the one hand local elections happen a lot more often and as such there is a greater chance of them being close enough for voter ID laws to have an effect on the outcomes. People are less motivated to vote in them and are thus more easily dissuaded, and there’s probably less resources available for voter registration outreach to address the problem. On the other hand the people who tend to participate in those elections are more highly motivated voters who are likely to have less issues obtaining ID to vote. On the other hand marginal who don’t have ID are more likely to want to vote in presidential elections and the money spent making sure they are able to do so is money not being spent elsewhere by campaigns.