Journal article
The effects of ballot initiatives on voter turnout in the American states
American politics research, Vol.29(6), pp.625-648
2001
DOI: 10.1177/1532673X01029006005
Abstract
With few exceptions, voter turnout continues to decline in the United States. Although normative theorists, journalists, and defenders of participatory democracy frequently suggest that citizen-initiated ballot measures can increase voter turnout, previous research has not supported this claim. Yet, in the past 25 years, usage of direct democracy has exploded in the United States. Using pooled time series data for the 50 states over a 26-year period (1970-1996), we find that the presence and usage of the initiative process is associated with higher voter turnout in both presidential and midterm elections. The disparity in turnout rates between initiative and noninitiative states has been increasing over time, estimated at 7% to 9% higher in midterm and 3% to 4.5% higher in presidential elections in the 1990s. Our analysis suggests that the initiative process can and does play a positive role in increasing electoral participation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The effects of ballot initiatives on voter turnout in the American states
- Creators
- Caroline J TolbertJohn A GrummelDaniel A Smith
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American politics research, Vol.29(6), pp.625-648
- DOI
- 10.1177/1532673X01029006005
- ISSN
- 1532-673X
- eISSN
- 1552-3373
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2001
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; Public Policy Center (Archive); Political Science
- Record Identifier
- 9983988972202771
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