Why is turnout so low in US elections?

Have new schemes helped to increase turnout?

How easy is it to register to vote? Despite guarantees in the constitution the USA has a history

of denying groups the right to vote Following the 1965 Voting Rights Act tests and tax systems

were outlawed as a way of restricting this right However, many states still deny the right to vote (for life) to

those convicted of serious offences. Also for years in order to register you had to go to the state

offices which could be difficult for those living far away In 1993 the National Voter Registration Act (Motor voter law)

was passed This allowed citizens to register to vote when they were

applying for a drivers license. In addition citizens could register by post.

Please note that many people who live in the US are not citizens.

Percentage of voting age population who have registered to vote

Year %

1960 58.2

1964 64.6

1968 67.9

1972 69.1

1976 69.0

1980 68.7

1984 71.2

1988 69.2

1992 70.8

1996 74.4

2000 76.0

What does research on new schemes to aid voter registration suggest?

Vote via text, register on internet (to be introduced), fax

Register by mail No need to pre-register

10 largest increases in turnout by state

State Convenience voting

available?Won by 2004

turnout2008 turnout

Increase

North Carolina

Yes Obama 56.8 66.3 16.6

Georgia Yes McCain 54.7 61.3 12.0South Carolina

No McCain 52.2 58.2 11.6

Alabama No McCain 56.3 61.6 9.4Indiana No Obama 54.7 59.7 9.1Nevada Yes Obama 55.3 58.8 6.3Missouri No McCain 64.6 67.4 4.3Mississippi

No McCain 54.1 56.4 4.2

Tennessee Yes McCain 55.7 57.9 4.1Virginia No Obama 59.9 62.2 3.9

10 largest decreases in turnout by state

State Convenience voting available?

Won by 2004 turnout

2008 turnout

Decrease

New York No Obama 58.8 55.4 5.8Hawaii Yes Obama 48.5 45.3 6.5Vermont Yes Obama 65.5 61.1 6.7Maryland Yes Obama 61.0 56.9 6.8New Hampshire Yes Obama 70.0 65.2 6.9West Virginia Yes McCain 53.4 49.6 7.2Ohio Yes Obama 66.5 61.1 8.2Utah Yes McCain 61.4 56.0 8.8Maine Yes Obama 73.3 64.4 12.2Arizona Yes McCain 53.0 45.8 13.5

Why was turnout lower than expected in 2008? Could be due to lower than expected

increase in turnout among Republican voters

Why might this have been? Disillusioned Republicans will not turn out Inevitability of loss McCain and Palin – McCain was too

moderate, Palin was too extreme

Percentage of the eligible electorate who voted in presidential elections:1960-2008

Year %1960 67.0

1964 64.0

1968 61

1972 57.1

1976 55.0

1980 54.7

1984 55.9

1988 53.3

1992 58.3

1996 51.4

2000 54.2

2004 60.6

2008 61.0

What are other reasons for low turnout? Remember turnout is low if you only look at voting age

population, if you look at those have registered it is higher Democratic overload/voter fatigue Hapathy Election campaigns are too long Distrust of politicians Voting makes no difference, gridlock Electoral system and electoral college Uncompetitive elections Media alienates voters Lack of choice