Member-only story
How Do We Calculate Voter Turnout?
UPDATE 12/7/2021: I have recently written and self-published my own book! It’s called Why Independents Rarely Win Elections: And How They Could Become More Competitive. It is a comprehensive look at the reasons why independent candidates for elected office have such a tough time being successful, and provides some practical measures that can be taken to make them more viable in elections. You can buy it here at Amazon as an ebook or paperback! And if you enjoy it, please leave a review!
Despite the rise in voter turnout in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, the United States ranks low compared to other countries’ voter turnout.¹ The comparisons aren’t always straightforward. The CIA’s World Factbook lists that 21 countries use compulsory voting,² where voting is mandated by law. Those who do not vote are subject to penalties through fines, jail time, and/or disenfranchisement. (Relatedly, a Pew Research Center poll in May 2021 suggests mixed opinions among Americans as to whether they would support compulsory voting.³)
Another issue with comparisons concerns how countries track their registered and eligible voters. For example, some countries do not make the data on eligible voters readily available.⁴ This distinction between registered and eligible voters is a critically important component to today’s topic.
