The Impact of Broadband Access on Voter Turnout:  Evidence from a U.S. Presidential Election

Abstract

Voter turnout is crucial in determining election outcomes and is theunderpinning of democratic governance. The 2020 U.S. presidential electionhad a turnout of just over 66 percent which is considered quite high.Turnout is affected by many different factors including voter information,political engagement and even the weather. We show that turnout can alsobe affected by broadband availability. A theoretical analysis demonstratesthat voter turnout expands when internet access increases homophilic politicalinformation. Empirical results show a positive relationship betweenbroadband access and turnout controlling for both state and rural-urbanfixed effects.

Keywords: broadband accessvoting turnout