Project: Impact of Local Infrastructure on Voter Turnout
Student Researcher: Dylan Wyatt
Introduction
“This project will look into the discrepancy in regards to voter turnout based on the amount of infrastructure in a certain area. This question will be answered through the use of sound GIS techniques and research using ArcMap to compare different regions of York County, specifically York City compared to a more rural area of York County. I chose this geographic question because I believe with further research you could make the claim that wealthier areas that pay more in taxes create more infrastructure which allows for more accessible polling stations, making it easier for the people of that region to vote.”
Conclusions
“By comparing Franklin Township/Borough with3,294 registered voters and the York City voting precinct with the most number of registered voters (York City 11-0) at 2,435 you start to gain a greater sense of the picture when you look at the voter turnout numbers though (3,294-2,446)74.26% for Franklin Township vs York City 11-0(2,435-1,173) 48.17% voter turnout. This is coming in an area of York City that has 2Polling Stations, 2 Schools and a Fire station compared to Franklin Township that only has 2 polling stations and one fire station. My hypothesis would’ve predicted that York 11-0 district would’ve had a higher voter turnout comparatively, while this is just one example in one county it was quite the opposite.”
Click here to view Project Poster (Page 1)
