Analyzing Voting Difficulty

This research project analyzes factors that contribute to voting difficulty across different demographics and regions in the United States.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Voting and Registration Supplement and state-level voting regulations, I examined how various factors impact voter turnout and perceived difficulty of voting.

Key Findings

• Wait times at polling places varied significantly by zip code, with a strong correlation to median income and racial demographics
• States with automatic voter registration showed 7% higher turnout among 18-25 year olds compared to opt-in states
• Distance to polling places had a stronger negative impact on turnout in rural areas than urban areas

Methodology

I used Python and GeoPandas for spatial analysis, combined with statistical modeling in R to identify significant factors affecting voting accessibility.