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Low Voter Turnout in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Hill

    (University of Adelaide, lisa.hill@adelaide.edu.au)

Abstract

America’s turnout problem is among the worst of any of the established democracies. Even a reform as sweeping as the NVRA (Motor Voter Act) has failed to remedy it. Adopting an empirically informed normative approach, the author proposes and defends an ambitious solution: compulsory voting. Anticipating considerable resistance to this proposal, the article explores likely cultural, practical, political and legal barriers to its introduction and, in some cases, suggests strategies for overcoming them. It is concluded that most of the likely impediments are not technically, but rather, culturally and politically intractable. Yet, compulsory voting could have many benefits. Not only could it improve turnout more effectively than any other measure, but it could also close America’s yawning SES voting gap, limit some of the problems associated with campaign finance and break the cycle of low efficacy, alienation, non-participation and exclusion that characterizes American politics. Finally, compulsory voting can serve and protect such important democratic values as representativeness, legitimacy and political equality.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Hill, 2006. "Low Voter Turnout in the United States," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 18(2), pages 207-232, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:18:y:2006:i:2:p:207-232
    DOI: 10.1177/0951629806061868
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mueller, Dennis C. & Stratmann, Thomas, 2003. "The economic effects of democratic participation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(9-10), pages 2129-2155, September.
    2. Clarke, Harold D. & Acock, Alan C., 1989. "National Elections and Political Attitudes: The Case of Political Efficacy," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(4), pages 551-562, October.
    3. Franklin, Mark N., 1999. "Electoral Engineering and Cross-National Turnout Differences: What Role for Compulsory Voting?," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29(1), pages 205-216, January.
    4. Lisa Hill, 2002. "On the Reasonableness of Compelling Citizens to ‘Vote’: the Australian Case," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 50(1), pages 80-101, March.
    5. Highton, Benjamin & Wolfinger, Raymond E., 2001. "The Political Implications of Higher Turnout," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(1), pages 179-223, January.
    6. Abramson, Paul R. & Aldrich, John H., 1982. "The Decline of Electoral Participation in America," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(3), pages 502-521, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. repec:pri:cepsud:181farber is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Justin Mattias Valasek, 2012. "Get Out The Vote: How Encouraging Voting Changes Political Outcomes," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 346-373, November.

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