The Influence of Initiative Signature‐Gathering Campaigns on Political Participation1. (11th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boehmke, Frederick J.; Alvarez, R. Michael
• Is Part Of: Social science quarterly. Volume 95:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2013-07-11
• Subjects: Political science -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-4941

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ssqu12053-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>This article studies the effect of initiative signature‐gathering campaigns on political participation within a state.</p> </sec> <sec id="ssqu12053-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Using data on signatures gathered for eight initiatives and four different elections, we conduct grouped logit regression to test whether counties that are subject to more intense signature‐gathering campaigns, measured by the number of signatures gathered per capita, experience greater levels of turnout and ballot roll‐off in the subsequent election.</p> </sec> <sec id="ssqu12053-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Our analysis provides evidence that the intensity of signature‐gathering campaigns has a moderate effect on both of these measures of political participation.</p> </sec> <sec id="ssqu12053-sec-0040" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Initiative campaigns influence turnout not just at the state level, but variation in campaigns leads to differences within states as well.</p> </sec> </abstract>