Study: Polling Place May Sway Your Vote

[Wilms]

Now What!?!

Study: Polling place may sway your vote

By Daniel Scarpinato
arizona daily star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.28.2006

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Sound hard to believe? The study is actually based on what psychologists call "priming," the notion that particular associations result in unconscious actions. In other words, you don't know you're being influenced — but you are.

Researchers chose Arizona because of Proposition 301, which in 2000 proposed raising sales taxes to fund education. Also, Arizona's relatively small number of counties — 15 — made it feasible to collect polling-place-location data for every precinct in the state.

Making sure to account for demographics and party affiliation, the researchers found that while the influence was small — 2 percent to 3 percent — people who voted in precincts where the polls were a school were more likely to favor increased education funding. Furthermore, those who voted in precincts with nicer, newer schools were more likely to say yes than voters who voted in older, more run-down buildings.

And in deciding closely divided, competitive measures such as those regarding marriage or immigration, a few points can make a difference.

snip

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/139773

[Bill Bored]

1. What's up with all those polling places in church? nt

[Wilms]

2. I would have figured availability.

Schools lose the area in which voting takes place so may be less desirable. But, now I wonder if it's by preference in some cases.

Plus, some people may think that voting is a sacred rite, as opposed to a sacred right! :D

[azurnoir]

3. During the '04 election

the repuke mayor of the town where I voted made a last minute change of polling places from the town civic center where it had always been to a catholic church, the Monsignor of the church TOOK DOWN all of the vote morally or vote pro-life signs in the church, he believed in fair elections.

[sandnsea]

4. Nathan Sproul?

That guy should be in prison, his company was having people toss out Democratic registrations. I can't believe they gave this guy the credibility of being quoted in an election article.