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Executive Summary

Jurisdictions most adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy experienced a significantly lower level of voter participation in the 2012 Presidential Election than jurisdictions not affected by the storm.

• On average, there was a 2.8% decline in voter turnout between the 2008 and 2012 President Elections in jurisdictions most adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy. Jurisdictions unaffected by Sandy experienced less than a 1% decline in turnout.
• The negative effect Hurricane Sandy had on turnout in affected jurisdictions remains significant when controlling for other determinants of voter participation in the 2012 election.

Those jurisdictions adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy provide their voters with limited flexibility in when, where and how they cast their ballots.

• Only three of the ten states with jurisdictions adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy have no-excuse mail-in absentee voting.
• Only one of the ten states with jurisdictions adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy has in-person early voting or other modes of ‘convenience’ voting e.g., Election Day vote centers.

There is strong evidence that local election officials in jurisdictions most adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy attempted to enhance voters’ access to balloting on and before Election Day 2012.

• Maryland implemented in-person early voting for the 2012 Presidential Election.
• The proportion of vote cast early in counties adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy is significantly related to a higher rate of voter participation.

The most efficacious action to mitigate the impact of Hurricane Sandy on voter participation in the 2012 election was the consolidation and location of polling places on and before Election Day.

• Jurisdictions adversely affected by Hurricane Sandy experienced a significant decrease in the number of polling places, an increase in the number of voters casting a ballot per voting place and a concomitant increase in poll workers per voting place.
• A smaller number of larger polling places, presumably more centrally located and accessible to voters had a positive and significant effect on voter turnout in jurisdictions hit by Hurricane Sandy.