As covered on Democracy Chronicles, there are many unexpected factors that research suggests affects US voter turnout. Influencing factors include things like cigarette smoking, wind speed, rain, bad weather forecasts, boredom, and delayed onset adulthood. There was an interesting new related post at Austin, Texas’s NPR Station KUT by Ashely Lopez

Advocates say they’re hoping to register more Texans with disabilities ahead of the constitutional amendment election in November and the presidential primaries next year. Across the country, voter turnout among people with disabilities is lower than those without disabilities.

During an event in Austin on Tuesday, activists began training to become deputy voter registrars who will reach out to the disability community, specifically. There are an estimated 2 million registered voters with disabilities in Texas. Disability rights groups have been working to increase that bloc of voters for about three years.

See full story here. This type of research is highlighted in the Democracy Chronicles Election Science archives as well as other important research in political science as it relates to democracy, the ultimate invention in political science.