Pollsters Project Gloomy Voter Turnout

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, October 20) -- With less than three weeks to go before U.S. elections, pollsters are predicting that about half of all eligible voters will stay away from the polls. As the campaign clock ticks toward November 5, both Bill Clinton and Bob Dole are campaigning as much for voter turnout as for themselves.

"It's your responsibility."

-- President Bill Clinton

"This is an important election. This is a presidential election"

-- Bob Dole, Republican Presidential Candidate

Many Americans appear disenchanted with the election process. In the 1992 presidential election, only 55 percent of the electorate bothered to cast their votes, marking the best turnout in two decades. The average voter turnout in most of Europe is 70 percent or more.

"In other countries the right to vote is something that is more cherished and is more worked at. I think there is a certain complacency in America about voting," said Democratic Pollster Peter Hart.

The complaceny is occuring despite record numbers of new registered voters. A new law enabling people to register to vote when they apply for a drivers' license is expected to add 12 million new voters to the rolls by election day. An additional 11 million voters have re-registered through the program.

Some experts suggest the growing ranks of non-voters are a sign that people are content with the status quo, while others argue that people simply don't have the information they need to cast their ballots.

"The lack of voter interest is not just that people may be frustrated with both candidates," said Republican Pollster Frank Lutz. "It may also be that people may simply be satisfied with the system, and they don't feel this burning desire to go out and knock somebody out of office."

Studies conducted by the League of Women Voters found that non-voters tend to be younger, less educated, poorer and often minorities. Many view the voting process as complicated and cumbersome, according to President Becky Cain.

"Tell me where my precinct is. Tell me what the voting booth looks like. Tell me what the hours are. That was number one. They needed the information," Cain said.

Suggestions for enticing voters to go to the polls include shortening the campaign season, regulating political advertising, and making the voting process more convenient through mail-in ballots and longer polling hours. Some pollsters even suggest adding a "none of the above" choice on the ballots to bring in dissatisfied voters who don't like the choice of candidates.

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