Chapter 14
Popular Perspective: Voting and other forms of participation in politics are essential to a functioning democracy. Yet the likelihood that any single vote will have a determining impact on the outcome of an election is very small, and the time and effort required to vote can be substantial in today’s busy world. This line of reasoning suggests that fewer voters will bother to vote each election cycle unless some sort of reward for voting or punishment for not voting is added to the mix. Not surprisingly, these proposals are controversial, particularly since voter turnout since 2000 has consistently increased, and is now at levels similar to those observed in the 1950s and 1960s. Check out the following links for more details on voter turnout levels and why people vote, including the new research on the influence of genetics.
A brief look at the rational basis for voting
Why Do People Vote? Genetic Variation In Political Participation
An alternative approach to calculating voter turnout
The Genetics of Politics
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/primary-voter-turnout-stays-low-but-more-so-for-democrats/?scp=1&sq=voter%20turnout&st=cse
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/33674994.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aU2EkP7K_t:aDyaEP:kD:aUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU