Explaining the dynamics behind rejecting voter registration applications

What is it about?

The administration of voter registration, is critical in understanding many of the issues relating to voter access. Unless a prospective voter is registered to vote, she is not able to cast a valid vote. However, successfully registering to vote is a complex process that scholars in Political Science have not thoroughly investigated. Voter registration applications are submitted daily and through different agencies and local election officials process them all, and in time for voters to be able to participate in the upcoming election. I find that restrictive voter registration deadlines, as well as the activity of various agencies that offer voter registration, have a conditioning impact on the rates of rejected voter registration applications, especially when prospective voters attempt to register to vote close to the voter registration deadline.

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Why is it important?

This is a significant finding, because it indicates that voters do not have equal chances to enter the voter rolls, and thus casting a regular ballot, because of the negative impact of voter registration deadlines and the burden imposed on local election officials to process voter registrations in a shorter window of time.