Comments on Accessible Elections

Ritter and Tolbert's Accessible Elections offers useful analyses for evaluating how well state election administration systems are serving voters. The book innovates in several ways including analysis beyond presidential elections, controlling for voters' prior voting histories, and examining outcomes beyond voter turnout. The book also sets the stage for more advanced analyses that will better identify causal effects, include benchmark effects for privileged groups, and examination interactions among election laws. Comparing the U.S. to that of France is a reminder of the tremendous variety in election practices across states and localities that facilitates new ways of operating but also creates and inconsistent election experience across the country.