Suchergebnisse

THIS IS A STUDY OF THE VARIABLES AFFECTING TURNOUT OF VOTERS IN NORTHERN STATE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARIES FROM 1952 TO 1980. THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE IS TURNOUT IN EACH PARTY'S PRIMARY AS A PERCENTAGE OF TURNOUT FOR THAT PARTY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDEPENDENT VARIABLES ARE LONG-TERM PATTERNS OF PRIMARY COMPETITION AND TWO-PARTY COMPETITION, SUGGESTING THAT VOTERS DEVELOP HABITUAL PATTERNS OF VOTING IN PRIMARIES. OTHER PREDICTORS OF TURNOUT ARE SHORT-TERM PRIMARY COMPETITION, THE TYPE OF PRIMARY (OPEN OR CLOSED), AND (AMONG REPUBLICANS) PARTY ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES.

Examines cultural and institutional factors influencing political participation in 22 democracies.

THERE ARE MANY ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST COMPULSION AS A MEANS OF DECREASING THE NUMBERS OF CITIZENS WHO DO NOT VOTE. IN THE NETHERLANDS, VOTING WAS COMPULSORY(1917-1970). DURING THE YEARS IT WAS IN FORCE, VOTER TURNOUT WAS CONSISENTLY ABOVE 90%. RESULTS INDICATE THAT BETWEEN 10 TO 25% OF THE ELIGIBLE DUTCH VOTERS WERE INFLUENCED BY THE COMPULSORY VOTING LEGISLATION.

Voter turnout has declined in elections at all levels of American government. Though much research has been devoted to understanding diminished turnout in national contests, there has been scant attention to factors affecting local electoral participation. In this study, we examine both cross-sectionally and longitudinally the impact on turnout of adopting a reformed plan of government and non-partisanship. Evidence from elections in the 1930s, 1960s, and 1970s suggests that council-manager government and nonpartisanship do, as hypothesized, impede municipal voter turnout.

THE CONJECTURE THAT PROJECTIONS SIGNIFICANTLY DEPRESS VOTER TURNOUT IS MORE INTERESTING THAN AT FIRST MIGHT APPEAR, BECAUSE IT PRESUPPOSES THAT THE DECISION TO VOTE IS WELL UNDERSTOOD. MANY STUDENTS OF PUBLIC CHOICE WOULD SHY AWAY FROM THIS PRESUPPOSITION. IF PERSONS VOTE BECAUSE THEY HOPE POSSIBLY TO ALTER THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION, OR IF THEY VOTE BECAUSE THEY FIND PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL COMPETITION TO BE ENTERTAINING, THEN EARLY PROJECTIONS MAY BE EXPECTED TO DECREASE TURNOUT. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF PERSONS VOTE IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE THE SIZE OF THE VICTOR'S MANDATE, OR IF THEY VOTE OUT OF A SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY, THEN IT IS NOT AT ALL CLEAR THAT TURNOUT WILL BE AFFECTED.

In 1960 and 1962 an intensive study was conducted of voluntary organizations and social participation in the town of Biggar, Saskatchewan. While the research was primarily focused upon the structure and characteristics of local voluntary groups, their leadership and their participants, it also delved into the related subjects of voter turnout (on the local, provincial, and federal election levels) and political party preference (on the provincial and federal levels). It is the purpose of this paper to present, and examine the implications of, these latter data. Following a brief description of the research site, and the sample chosen for study, the data are first examined in terms of the apparent relationship between voter turnout and party preference in a community where party switching (that is, voting for one party on the provincial level, another on the federal) is not an uncommon phenomenon. This analysis suggests the probability that a relatively small number of "switch voters" may be the key to party success in many Canadian communities, and examines the question of whether party popularity or keenness of a local competition plays a greater role in stimulating voter turnout. A series of eight social factors are then considered, independently, in terms of their relationships to turnout and party preference. A number of significant findings emerge, some of which support, others of which question, expectations based upon previous research in Canada and elsewhere.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO 1)DISTINGUISH BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMIC COMPONENTS OF TURNOUT AND (2) TO ATTEMPT TO PARTITION,THE VARIATION IN TURNOUT BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS. UNLIKE PREVIOUS RESEARCH, THIS STUDY USED BOTH SURVEY AND AGGREGATE DATA TO DECOMPOSE THE VARIATION IN TURNOUT AMONG THE STATES INTO FIRST TWO COMPONENTS- INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMIC, THEN POLITICAL AND LEGAL.