Effect Of The Two-Party System On Voter Turnout In The United States Of America
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Date
2019-05-24
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
Abstract
Voter turnout in elections in the United States of America is one of the lowest among democracies around the world. Usually, such a low level of voter turnout is connected to the costs of voting, such as voter identification document (ID) laws or the registration system. The factors of competitiveness and political representation in the United States’ two-party system are frequently discarded in the conversation about voter turnout. This thesis uses data on elections and analyzes the effect that the two-party system has on the voting behavior of American citizens, and explores specific elections and the reasons for turnout in these elections. The data used in this thesis include a comparison between turnout in the United States and that in other democracies, turnout in different states of the United States, as well as various polling data for particular elections. The research of elections includes the analysis of agendas, issues, candidates and how campaigns shape voter turnout. The stable two-party system in the United States, combined with the rise in the number of “independent” voters and citizens disengaged from the political process, result in a turnout that is lower than average around the world. The introduction of a third-party candidate that follows certain criteria can temporarily increase turnout. Besides, the political power of parties to force their agendas, the correct choice of agendas, along with other specific factors can also increase turnout. However, without the elimination of the two-party system the constant increase of voter turnout in the United States to European levels is impossible.
Thesis Advisors and Reviewers: Matthew Cooper Laslo, Dr. Ken Masugi, Dr. Richard Skinner
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Keywords
voter turnout, two-party system, elections