Media Coverage of Polling Place Lines During COVID: Survey Experiments about Impact on Public Perceptions, Voter Turnout and Confidence in Elections

• In Event: Election Sciences 2: Public Opinion About Election Administration in 2020 and Beyond

Brief Overview

This paper has two parts: First, a content analysis of news coverage of voting. Second, two survey experiments using different news frames about lines and COVID-19 precautions at polling places. We find impacts on attitudes related to voting.

Authors

• Chris B Mann, Skidmore College

• Kathleen Searles, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College