Electoral administration and voter turnout: Towards an international public policy continuum

In recent years many states have reformed (or considered reforming) their electoral administration to increase turnout. This article uses the existing international literature on electoral administration and voter turnout to construct a continuum on which electoral procedures can be classified according to whether they have ‘restrictive’ or ‘expansive’ effects on participation. This continuum is argued to be a useful heuristic device for political scientists and policy‐makers seeking to identify the likely effects of reforms and can help to structure future debate and research.