Needless to say, there are a lot of factors that influence you when you go to the polls -- your personal background, your community, your party (or lack thereof), the candidates themselves.
But there's a new study that suggests there's one more factor once you actually get to the polls. A new Stanford paper says the actual polling site where you cast your vote -- the church, school, community center, etc. -- may sway your vote.
The paper, which is currently undergoing peer review, looked at voting data from Arizona in the 2000 election. According to the Arizona Republic , the researchers found:
o People who voted in schools were more
likely to support a proposed sales tax increase to improve teacher
salaries and repair school buildings.
o People who voted in schools were not more likely to support the
other 13 ballot measures, a fact the researchers said strengthened
their conclusion.
It's a very interesting notion. And, hey, if people can be swayed in their vote for the president by the color of his tie, than the effects of the polling site aren't difficult to believe.
Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
E-mail: zpatton@governing.com 
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
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