Unconditional cash transfers & voter turnout

• DOI: 10.1111/ecin.13287
• Publication Date: 2025-03-23T14:43:20Z
• Authors: Alexander James; Nathaly M. Rivera; Brock Smith

AbstractWe estimate the effect of unconditional cash transfers on voter turnout, leveraging a large‐scale natural experiment, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program, which has provided residents with a check of varying size 1 month before election day since 1982. We find that larger transfers cause people to vote, especially in gubernatorial elections in which a 10% increase in cash ($190) causes a 1.4 percentage point increase in turnout. Effects are concentrated among the young and poor. Survey data suggests the mechanism is reduced voter apathy. Implications are discussed.