The Decline of Electoral Participation in America

• DOI: 10.2307/1963728
• Publication Date: 2006-05-06T09:15:07Z
• Authors: Paul R. Abramson; John H. Aldrich
• Keywords: Turnout; Presidential election; Voter turnout

Since 1960 turnout has declined in presidential elections, and since 1966 it off-year congressional elections. These declines occurred despite several major trends that could have increased electoral participation. An analysis of the eight SRC-CPS election surveys conducted between 1952 1980 six 1958 1978 suggests these may result largely from combined impact two attitudinal trends: weakening party identification declining beliefs about government responsiveness, is, lowered feelings “external” political efficacy. Between two-thirds seven-tenths decline appears to trends. Data limitations hinder our efforts study turnout, but approximately two-fifths one-half