– The Beacon conducts county-by-county analysis on election spending and voter turnout in Kansas
– Counties that spent less than $20 per registered voter typically saw approximately a 40% turnout
– Counties that invested over $30 per voter generally experienced over 50% turnout
Election Spending’s Impact on Voter Turnout in Kansas
In an in-depth examination conducted by The Beacon, it has been discovered that counties spending more money per voter tended to see a significant increase in turnout. These correlations, however, have limits and certainly do not apply universally.
Frugal Spending, Frugal Turnout?
The study found a noticeable trend among counties that kept their per-voter spending under the $20 mark. In these instances, voter turnout hovered around the 40% mark—an indicator that reduced financial input may equate to lower civic engagement.
Spending More, Achieving More?
On the flip side, counties that loosened their fiscal belts and spent more than $30 per registered voter saw the proportion of turnout typically escalating beyond the 50% threshold. This appears to suggest that higher financial investment in elections can have a tangible payoff in terms of increasing voter participation.
The Breezy Take
Simply put, this dives into the concept that “you get what you pay for”. Counties shelling out less have seen significantly lower voter turnout as compared to those investing more. While it’s not a universal rule, the analysis presents a compelling argument for increased election spending, aimed at driving higher civic engagement. However, there’s a limit to how much spending can boost turnout. Ultimately, other factors like voter education, local issues, and candidate appeal also play crucial roles in driving people to the polls.
Original article: https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2023/08/22/election-funding-kansas-voter-turnout/