The New York Times reports that America’s voter turnout is far below that of most democracies . Worse, it’s uneven: Older, wealthier and more educated people turn out in large numbers. Last year, for example, 70 percent of those over 70 years old voted. By contrast, only 43 percent of those under 25 did.
Even in presidential elections, when turnout is highest, the electorate does not reflect America. In primaries and local elections, turnout can dip into single digits. This has proved catastrophic for both major parties in our political system, often favoring extreme candidates and ensuring that most incumbents have no real contest.
Raising turnout presents two distinct challenges: How does our campaign win the next election? And how does our political system raise voter turnout for the long term? Read More Here. – The New York Times