ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 371, S. 59-71

Abstract

The report of the Kennedy Commission on Registration & Voter Participation, the 1964 Current Pop Survey of the Census Bur, & other data indicate a number of facts about US voter participation. People tend to 'overstate' their participation to elections. AIen vote more than women, the middle-aged more than the young & the elderly, whites more than Negroes. The curve of voter turnout parallels those of edue & income. Turnout is generally greater in elections for higher gov levels & greater in general than in primary elections. One group of nonvoters is deterred by such major legal- administration obstacles as citizenship, registration, & absentee voting requirements, racial & religious disabilities, & admin'ive regulations for voting times & locations. A 2nd group of nonvoters are those who meet legaladmin'ive requirements but exhibit 'lack of involvement.' Age, sex, & SES affect lack of involvement. So do importance & closeness of elections & competitiveness of the pol'al atmosphere. Total voter participation in elections is a dubious goal. Perhaps the goal should rather be to increase access to the polls by eliminating or altering legal & admin'ive barriers to voluntary voting. IIA.