How to increase voter turnout

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Effective Strategies to Increase Voter Turnout

Increasing voter turnout is a critical goal for enhancing democratic participation. Various studies have explored different methods to achieve this, ranging from official reminders to grassroots mobilization. Here, we synthesize the key findings from recent research on effective strategies to boost voter turnout.

Official Reminders and Feedback

Postcards from Local Officials

Sending repeated reminders and feedback from local officials can significantly increase voter turnout. A study involving 1 million registered voters in Philadelphia demonstrated that sending postcards before and after elections, with messages either thanking voters for their participation or expressing regret for their absence, increased turnout by up to 1.5 percentage points. This method is scalable and does not exacerbate racial inequalities, making it a feasible option for local governments.

Emails from Official Sources

Emails from official sources, such as local election registrars, have also been shown to increase voter turnout. Experiments in San Mateo County, California, revealed that unsolicited emails from the registrar consistently boosted turnout among registered voters, whereas identical messages from fictional organizations had no effect. This suggests that the credibility of the source plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of email campaigns.

Cost-Effective Measures

Prepaid Postage

Reducing the cost of voting by prepaying the postage for return envelopes can also lead to higher voter turnout. In the Swiss Canton of Berne, municipalities that implemented prepaid postage saw a 1.8 percentage point increase in turnout, translating to 4 percent more voters participating in ballots. This small financial investment can yield significant returns in voter participation.

Nonprofit and Grassroots Mobilization

Agency-Based Voter Engagement

Nonprofit organizations can play a vital role in increasing voter turnout, especially among low-income and marginalized populations. A study in Detroit found that agency-based voter mobilization efforts, where clients received voting-related contacts from their service agencies, increased the likelihood of turnout by 11.1 percentage points. The most effective forms of contact were voter registration assistance and personal voting reminders.

Volunteer Phone Calls

Volunteer phone calls have been shown to be an effective method for increasing voter turnout. Contrary to previous findings that professional phone banks were ineffective, a series of experiments demonstrated that personal, nonpartisan calls from volunteers could boost turnout by 3.8 percentage points. This method is cost-competitive with door-to-door canvassing, making it a viable option for grassroots mobilization.

Structural and Policy Changes

Flexible Voting Arrangements

Implementing flexible voting arrangements, such as postal voting, remote electronic voting, and multi-day voting, can also help increase voter turnout. These methods reduce the barriers to voting and make it more accessible for a broader range of people. For example, the extension of postal voting in the UK led to a significant increase in applications for postal votes, although its impact on overall turnout varied.

High-Salience Ballot Initiatives

Campaigns for high-salience ballot initiatives and candidate races can draw more citizens to the polls. Research indicates that these measures can increase turnout by about four points during midterm elections, similar to the effects of closely contested gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns. The visibility and perceived importance of these initiatives play a crucial role in their effectiveness.

Conclusion

Increasing voter turnout requires a multifaceted approach that includes official reminders, cost-effective measures, nonprofit and grassroots mobilization, and structural changes to the voting process. By implementing these strategies, governments and organizations can enhance democratic participation and ensure that more citizens have their voices heard in elections.