Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined: (1) why voter turnout in the United States was low compared to other democracies; (2) why U.S. voter turnout has been declining since 1960; and (3) what election procedures and informational activities were associated with higher levels of voter participation.

GAO found that: (1) comparatively low American voter turnout was not the consequence of political alienation, but international differences in the characteristics of political parties and election procedures; (2) U.S. political parties were not closely linked with specific interest groups and social categories, as in other countries, and consequently election results did not make a difference in the lives of individual voters; (3) the absence of penalties for not voting and the fact that citizens must assume the responsibility of registering to vote were other explanations given for comparatively low U.S. voter turnout; (4) turnout differences between states resulted from demographic composition of the electorate and different electoral rules; (5) all-mail ballot elections led to a 20- to 40-percent point increase in turnout and cost 32 percent less than conventional elections; (6) voter information activities did not generally increase voter turnout and low-turnout states were more likely to run such campaigns than high-turnout states; (7) states that mailed information to households, provided toll-free phone numbers for voters, and held mock elections in high schools experienced a substantially lower decline in voter turnout between 1980 and 1988; (8) making registration convenient and holding information campaigns stressing how to register and vote were especially effective in increasing turnout; and (9) voter information campaigns stressing civic duty, transporting voters to the polls, operating child care centers, and telephoning voters were not effective.