Article by Tom Haxton
A Groundbreaking Election for Voter Turnout
Thanks to the 66.2% of eligible voters who cast a ballot last November, the 2020 US presidential election marks the highest voter turnout in 120 years. To put that into perspective, 2020 turnout exceeded the 2008 Obama election – the second highest in modern history – by a full 5% and was 15% higher than the 1996 Clinton election, which holds the record for the lowest modern-day eligible voter turnout. While the recent rise in voter turnout is noteworthy, voter apathy still poses a significant threat to voter turnout in US presidential elections, midterms and other non-presidential elections. Despite the variable studies on the root causes of voter apathy, it’s impact on voter turnout is impossible to dismiss, making our understanding of the phenomenon pertinent to the preservation of our representative democracy.
Previous Successes in Increasing Turnout
It is useful to look at the positive statistical blips in US elections to determine whether any other causal factors can be identified. Aside from the 2020 presidential election, previous modern-day high turnout years have included the 2008 (Obama) and 1960 (JFK) presidential elections, and 1994 (Clinton) and 2010 (Obama) midterm elections. Experts speculate that these highly competitive elections motivated voters on opposite sides of the political spectrum to cast their ballots. It’s important to note that some states report consistently higher turnout regardless of the political context, which indicates that factors other than party politics may be at work.
Is Voter Registration the Problem?
Some argue that the physical act of voting in the US is not the issue, rather it is the registration process required to cast a legal ballot. According to a 2012 study, some 24% of eligible voters in the US (approximately 51 million people) have failed to register. In the US, each state has its own registration system, some of which are highly complex. Some studies indicate that states that adopt an easier registration process (such as day-of registration) experience increased voter turnout compared to states with more complex registration systems. Additionally, other countries with simplified or automatic voter registration processes show very high voter turnout when compared to the US. This evidence suggests that voter registration barriers may have a bigger impact on turnout than ballot box access barriers.
Call to Action
The internet is awash with statistics on elections, eligible voters and turnout rates. These facts and figures are a goldmine for solvers seeking to conduct a detailed analysis on the motivation of voters. Record setting 2020 voter turnout proved that given the right candidates and access to information, it’s possible to motivate voters to cast their ballots. However, it is also clear that individual voter circumstances, differing state registration processes, the political environment and global economics all have an impact. The Help America Vote Challenge is seeking new and innovative initiatives to improve voter participation. From eliminating barriers faced during the registration process to tackling obstacles faced at polling locations, your ideas could improve voter turnout and have a lasting impact on democracy in the US.
