Texas Government Lesson 3: Voter Turnout in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries

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Texas Government Lesson 3
Introduction
Participation is an important process within a democratic political system. Even though the political system is gradually being liberalized to increase the levels of participation, citizen involvement is yet to increase as expected. Measuring voter turnout can be analyzed looking at the casted votes versus the percentage of the eligible voters. However, eligibility can be affected by factors like citizenship, residency, imprisonment and other legal requirements (Carsey and Harden 136). Measuring voters’ turnout can be calculated based on an estimated voting age population. Voting-age population is the preferable measure because eliminates the various variation of the voting requirement that can affect voter turnout (Carsey and Harden 136).
Voter Turnout in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries
High voter turnout is desirable because it means the current political system is legitimate, while low turnout reflects indifferences. Low turnout would mean the people‘s will has not been fulfilled. Low turnouts result to unequal representation, especially among marginalized groups. The rate of participation of voters in the US is lower than it was in the nineteenth century. By then 80 percent of eligible voters actively participated in all the general elections (Hicken and Stoll 36).
Compared to the US high voter turnout is witnessed in Australia due to strict voters regulations. In Belgium, voters who fail to cast their votes are not permitted to vote next time. These legislations have successfully worked in Belgian and Australia where voters’ turnout laws is a culture. However, in the US, this is not workable (Hicken and Stoll 41). Many political analysts attempt to explain the factors behind low voter turnout in the US using countless explanations; one of them being that citizens do not trust the government. The other common reason is that citizens do not have political interests. Other reasons include legal barriers and convenience (Hicken and Stoll 42).
As compared to other countries, in the US voters need to go through separate voting registration processes before voting. In addition, most states do not set aside holidays for people to vote. The two-step voting process is complex compared to other countries. In France, Canada, German, and Belgium voters’ lists are generated from the general population database to simplify the voting process (League of Women Voters 12). In Germany, voters who are eighteen years and above will automatically receive a notification card, which makes them eligible to vote. In Canada, the income tax records are used for voting, while in the UK residences receive notice through mail at the same time voters can still register by mail (League of Women Voters 15).
Factors Affecting Level of Voter Turnout in the US
Institutional factors have a great impact on voter turnout, laws, and regulations that make voting compulsory have direct effects on the turnout. For instance, Latin Americans go through several voter registration processes. The two-step voting registration process decreases voter turnout (League of Women Voters 19). Many Americans view voting as not important exercise. This ...