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Fowler and Lyons examine opposition to enforcement of mask mandates in state and local government review

Associate Professors Luke Fowler and Jeffrey Lyons published an article in the Aug. 20 issue of State and Local Government Review.

“Is It Still a Mandate If We Don’t Enforce It? The Politics of COVID-related Mask Mandates in Conservative States”  adds context to the complexity of COVID responses in conservative states such as Idaho.

In researching the issue of COVID-related mask mandate enforcement, Lyons and Fowler conducted a split sample survey in order to examine how inclusion of a fine provision attached to mask mandates affects support. The survey was conducted in Idaho and found that respondents are less likely to support a mask mandate if it includes a fine for non-compliance.