Vote Where You Rent is at its core a data transparency effort. We cite our sources, and we invite scrutiny, corrections, and most especially, discourse. Nothing changes if we don't talk about it.
Primary Data Sources
Our statistics are derived from a combination of local government records and university datasets. By layering these sources, we can identify specific trends in renter civic participation that are otherwise obscured in general voter data.
- Athens County Board of Elections: We use official voter registration files and historical turnout records (including 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025 General Election data) to verify how many individuals are registered at specific addresses and whether they cast a ballot.
- City of Athens (Code Enforcement): We reference the city's official Registry of Rental Permits. This allows us to identify which residential properties are legally permitted as rentals and how many units or rooms are authorized for each address.
- Athens County Auditor: We pull parcel-level data to analyze property ownership, appraised values, and annual tax burdens. This data helps us quantify the financial contributions made by properties where renters reside.
- Ohio University: We utilize campus housing data and residence hall capacities to calculate voter potential and turnout specifically for students living in University-owned dormitories.
Methodology and Calculations
To ensure accuracy and transparency, we use the following methods to process and analyze this data:
- Renter Identification via Address Matching: We identify renter voters by cross-referencing the Board of Elections' registered voter addresses with the City's list of permitted rental properties and Ohio University's residence hall addresses. If a voter is registered at a known rental or dorm address, they are categorized accordingly.
- Voter Capacity and Potential: We estimate the voter capacity of a property based on the number of authorized rooms or units listed in rental permits or university housing records. To ensure our occupancy percentages are realistic, we apply a conservative 5% vacancy rate adjustment to account for units that may not be occupied.
- Financial Impact Analysis: By linking Auditor tax records to rental permit data, we calculate the tax per rental unit. This metric illustrates the portion of local property taxes—which fund schools, libraries, and city services—that is essentially paid by renters through their monthly rent.
- Property Tax Calculation: Property taxes are estimated by taking the average property tax generated by an Athens rental ($2,446) and factoring in the split between any roommates and the years and months you're living in Athens.
- To see our data and analysis, please see our living Athens renter voter data sheet.