It's no secret that Democrats have a turnout problem. It's bad.

[kpete]

When conservatives don't get what they want, they tend to double down at the ballot box. When progressives don't get what they want, many of us tend to storm away and fantasize about engaging the system outside of electoral politics somehow. This is part of why conservatives have been successful in moving the country to right



The study, from the Center for the Study of the American Electorate, shows turnout in the 25 states that have held statewide primaries for both parties is down by nearly one-fifth from the last midterm, in 2010. While 18.3 percent of eligible voters cast ballots back then, it has been just 14.8 percent so far this year. Similarly, 15 of the 25 states that have held statewide primaries so far have recorded record-low turnout.

Ouch.

This is all the more depressing when you realize that, less than 50 years ago, primary turnout was twice as high.

................................

What's perhaps most notable, though, is the partisan difference. Republican primary turnout overtook Democratic turnout for the first time in 2010, and that difference is even bigger this primary season.


From:
Americans hate Congress. They will totally teach it a lesson by not voting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/07/21/americans-hate-congress-they-will-totally-teach-it-a-lesson-by-not-voting/?tid=rssfeed
via:
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/turnout-problems-by-davidoatkins.html

[onehandle]

1. Idiots.

What Domestic Terrorists Are Teaching Our Children

[madville]

2. That's one reason to be wary of polling data

Polls show Scott/Crist pretty much a draw which is bad news, Kentucky Senate race is a draw, the Georgia races favoring Democrats at the moment, etc. Turnout is our biggest hinderance and will probably cost us most all of those races in the end, could get one or two though of those type races, the Georgia governor does appear very vulnerable with the current scandals.

[herding cats]

3. Why did voters stop turning out for primaries after 1970?

Serious question, it's before my time and I don't know what changed everyone's attitude about the importance of our votes.

[progressoid]

6. It may have had something to do with the tumultuous 68 convention.

[herding cats]

7. I'll look that up.

Thank you for the insight.

[BrotherIvan]

10. If I'm being generous

It could be that many are so overworked or threatened with firing, they can't stand in line to vote. Many put up the stats for Oregon which has mail in ballots and excellent voter participation. We (most especially Republicans) make it far too difficult to vote. I was once threatened when I went to vote and I stood up to my boss, but too many are on the edge and can't afford to lose even a day's pay or even worse their job.

That's just one of many reasons, but it should be addressed.

[TygrBright]

11. It may be less a matter of turnout decreasing than primaries increasing.

Prior to 1970, more state Democratic party organizations used the caucus/convention model.

Might have had something to do with it, maybe not.

speculatively,
Bright

[jillan]

4. The Gop scares their base, gets them fired up to go vote. Why Dems cannot learn that is beyond me!

The Dems should be screaming about Hobby Lobby and minimum wage every single day from now until the midterms.

They never learn. The majority of people don't pay attention to politics and don't have a clue why this election is so important.

[jeff47]

17. That's because the GOP base is motivated by fear.

Democratic base is not motivated by fear.

You can't use the same techniques on both parties. At least, not successfully.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. The most endearing quality that the Democratic Party has is also its curse: DIVERSITY!!

There's too much diversity of opinions; too many issues of import; the party is too heterogeneous. That's why it's like "herding cats," as the famous saying goes.

With the Republicans, it's either "black or white," no in-between. The party does not embrace diversity of thought or degree. It is a homogeneous party and therefore much easier to get people in line.

[quakerboy]

8. I call BS

Everything I have seen indicates "progressives" keep showing up. Its the so called moderates who dont tend to show up when theres no controversy to draw them and no obvious policy to excite them.

[conservaphobe]

9. Plus, they don't have as many minority voters... who are viciously denied their right to vote. nt

[Fred Sanders]

12. The problem in a two party state is that the party nomination process, which is all a primary is,

despite all the dressing up by the parties and the media, the problem is with turning the nomination into a circus by mimicking a real election.

Now massive amounts of money are required, the one with the most money wins because an under 10% turnout can be bought.

Better a party nomination meeting of delegates chosen in local districts who are elected to go to that nomination convention/meeting. The pretend delegation at the final party convention is more a coronation.

[MADem]

13. No offense, but fifty years ago, primaries were like hen's teeth.

We didn't always HAVE fifty state primaries--we just had a few, and the "party leaders" decided which states would be "allowed" to vote in a primary.

The fact that there were so few primaries meant that the candidates came to your state and spent some time there, and it was a big deal to go hear the candidates and maybe even get a handshake.

Nowadays, EVERYONE gets a primary. Except of course, for the "caucus" people.

Primaries. They aren't special anymore.

1968--these few states "got" the excitement (and woe) of a Democratic primary:

Gold denotes a state won by Lyndon B. Johnson. Purple denotes a state won by Robert Kennedy Green denotes a state won by Eugene McCarthy. Blue denotes a state won by George Smathers. Orange denotes a state won by Stephen M. Young. Grey denotes a state that did not hold a primary.

See how most states are GREY?

[jeff47]

19. The graph is midterm primaries, not presidential. (nt)

[MADem]

23. Ah, thank you! That's a horse of a different color, entirely!!! nt

[hopemountain]

14. holy shit! GOTV!

thank you for the graphic and link, kpete.

[kpete]

18. GOTV!!!!

Sing it loud and clear, over and over
GOTV



peace,
kp

[joshcryer]

15. The Republicans have been ratfucking for a very long time.

And the data proves it works.

[hollysmom]

16. oK, this was one of the two primaries I did not vote in, I voted all the others - but

I had a wisdom tooth out, the day before, and it was horrible. I was in terrible pain and the dentist did not give me anything for the pain. It was the first tooth pulled since I had the other 3 wisdom teeth pulled in my 20's 40 + years ago. Most seats were uncontested and the others were favored heavily by the people I would have voted for and they romped. Sorry.

[treestar]

20. Yes, Republicans have that

they are motivated and don't give up. It explains why they get more of what they want.

[hobbit709]

21. I know several people who quit voting because there was no clear choice.

"I'm not as bad as the other guy" is not much of distinction.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. And yet in 2010, Oregon had record level midterm turnout. Why is that?

We have Democrats who are recognizably different from Republicans, that helps. We tend to have issues people care about on our ballots and that helps. We also vote by mail, which makes voting very easy and user friendly.
Compare those elements to States with low turnout then take appropriate action.