…or lack thereof

Voter Turnout

The Nonvoting Problem?Alleged problem: low voter turnout in U.S.

compared to EuropeBut perhaps not as much of a problem as we think

Real problem is low voter registration rates Data tends to compare turnout of voting age

population rather than voting eligible population

Remember, voting is not the only method of participation

Change in Control

States initially decided who could vote and for which offices

Through various laws and constitutional amendments, Congress has reduced state prerogatives 15th Amendment (1870)“Grandfather Clause” declared unconstitutional

191519th Amendment (1920)23rd Amendment (1961)Voting Rights Act of 196526th Amendment (1971)

National standards now govern most aspects of voter eligibility

Voter TurnoutTwo theories regarding declining

percentages of eligible adults who vote1. Real decline caused by lessening popular interest and decreasing party mobilization

2. Apparent decline caused by more honest ballot countsoParties once printed ballots and controlled

countingoBallots were cast in publicoVoter eligibility rules were easily circumvented

“Vote early and often”

Voter Turnout

Several causes probably contribute to a real declineMore difficult registrationNo uniform national voting system

(yeah, we’re looking at you, Florida)

Calculation of turnout- is there really a drop?

Some scholars believe that non-voters mirror voters so their absence has little effect on election outcomes.