Why Was Voter Turnout Low?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Despite several contested races and an anti-incumbent political season, voter turnout in yesterday’s primaries was low.
In Providence, turnout was around an unusually low 20 percent, according to preliminary estimates provided by a local elections official. The statewide Democratic primary saw a turnout of about 90,000, party chairman Ed Pacheco told 630 WPRO, a GoLocalProv media partner. In 2006 it was around 92,000.
Explanations for the low turnout abounded yesterday - experts cited everything from the technicalities of the voting process to fatigue over the recession and cynicism about government.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTurnout Lower Without Races for President, Governor, Senator
Several experts told GoLocalProv that turnout for statewide primaries in years without a presidential primary are typically low. “It’s something of a non-event in terms of turnout,” said political scientist Tony Affigne, a professor at Providence College.
Statewide results for turnout weren’t available as of early morning, but political scientist Victor Profughi, a retired RIC professor, estimated that it would be around 20 percent of registered voters. That’s slightly less than the two previous primaries in non-presidential years. in 2002, 22.5 percent of voters cast ballots. In 2006, the turnout was 20.99 percent.
Turnout was also low because there was not a big-ticket senatorial or gubernatorial primary, unlike 2002 and 2006, said Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at The Cook Political Report.
Candidates Did Not Stir Excitement
The remaining races - most notably for Attorney General and the First Congressional District - failed to generate excitement among voters, according to Marion Orr, the Director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions at Brown University.
None of the candidates in those races every caught fire with voters, Profughi said. “I think one of the things that’s in play is that there have not been any candidates or campaign themes that have grabbed a broad spectrum of voters,” Profughi told GoLocalProv.
Closed Primary Confusing for Independents
Profughi said turnout has been low ever since the state moved to closed primaries in the 1970s. Under the current law, unaffiliated voters can vote in either the Democratic or the Republican primary - but that automatically registers them for one of those parties unless they fill out a form to disaffiliate. “The problem is that you have to affirmatively do something,” Profughi said. “My hunch is that a lot of people are intimidated by the process, uncomfortable with it, or aren’t aware of it.”
Voters Discouraged, Not Angry by Economy?
Several political scientists pointed to the poor economy as one reason that kept turnout low this year. Affigne said the recession had two effects on the turnout. “It’s discouraging and de-mobilizes voters who don’t feel that government has taken sufficient steps to improve the employment picture,” Affigne told GoLocalProv. “It also makes voters more cynical … about their elected officials.”
In Rhode Island, the recession has been especially acute and long-lasting. The state suffers from the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country, entered the recession before other states, and is recovering more slowly than others. It also has the highest foreclosure rate in New England.
“They’re probably more people out there in the dumps who are very much depressed and aren’t participating in civic activities like they might normally,” Profughi said. He said it might be a factorin the turnout - but not a major one.
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