Sex, age, and the implementation of the Motor Voter Act: The 1996 presidential election

Objective. Among the existing studies of political participation, few discu ss differences between men and women. Of those published, most have focused upon substantive policy preferences, perhaps noting women's newly dominant electoral presence but not probing its characteristics or limits. In this analysis we build on the work of Schlozman, Burns, and Verba (1994) by exam ining the compound effects of closing dates, state National Voter Registrat ion Act implementation delay, and age upon women and men. Methods. Using th e 1996 Current Population Survey Voter Supplement we compare the impact of legal obstacles among different age groups of men and women in the 1996 pre sidential election. Results. We find that legal restrictions do have a diff erent impact on men and women, especially the youngest and oldest members o f the latter group. Conclusions. The most significant implication of our wo rk is that policy efforts aimed at further reducing legal barriers to polit ical participation may facilitate women's growing electoral dominance.