DOES MOTOR VOTER WORK - EVIDENCE FROM STATE-LEVEL DATA

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 mandates ''motor voter'' p rograms in all states prior to the 1996 presidential election. Using m ate-level registration and turnout data over the 1976-1992 period, thi s study finds that motor voter programs already implemented in many st ates have significantly increased participation rates. A duration-base d specification of motor voter is employed, to account for the fact th at driver's license renewal cycles last up to six years or even more i n some states. Dummy-variable specifications are shown to underestimat e the eventual impact of motor voter. Models include state dummy varia bles to control for long-standing differences in participation rates a cross states that otherwise bias coefficient estimates for registratio n closing dare and other variables. In contrast to motor voter, other provisions required by the NVRA-including mail-in and agency-based reg istration, and limitations on the purging of voter rolls-show little e vidence of effectiveness in the states where they have already been im plemented.