Voter turnout

The turnout reflects the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted in an election. Depending on the local authority also those be counted among the voters, who have inserted a blank ballot or an invalid. In public, the term is usually used in connection with political elections, but it can also be used in relation to other options. In political elections, it is a kind of political participation.

• 3.1 1919-1930
• 3.2 Since 1945

Definition

The turnout is usually defined as the ratio of voters to the total number of eligible voters:

So was, for example in the Austrian Parliamentary elections 2008 the number of registered voters 6,333,109 persons, of which 4,990,952 people have actually voted. From here calculated a turnout of 78.81 %. It is also seen in this example that the number of ballots cast ( number of voters ) the sum of the valid ( 4887309 ) and the invalid ( 103 643 ) is ballots. This calculation also applies in Germany and in Switzerland. The number of voters thus also results from the total number of voters minus the non-voters.

This definition is to be taken into account that in some countries, registration is required to be included on the electoral roll. In 2004, for the U.S., the proportion of registered voters, 79% of people of voting age. The turnout was thus based on all persons of voting age only 55.27 %.

Germany

In federal elections, the turnout (quota) to 1983 was mostly over 85 percent since 1987, generally less than 80 percent. In state elections it is usually more than 50 percent in local elections over 45 percent. In the last European elections it was 43 percent.

The previous highest turnout in free elections, there was at the parliamentary elections in 1990 in the German Democratic Republic with 93.4 percent in the general election in 1972 with 91.1 percent, the lowest in the 2009 federal election with 70.8 percent.

In Germany there is no minimum turnout, ie there is no minimum number of votes cast, below which the election would be invalid. Blank ballots are after the federal election law as invalid ( § 39 BWahlG ).

At the federal, state, county and municipal level, the turnout has been declining since its peak in the 1970s. The reasons for this generally designated as voter fatigue downtrend are controversial. Some political scientists and sociologists attribute this to the sinking through broken election promises confidence in democracy. Also, would the political differences between the parties increasingly difficult recognizable ( " politics "). There are also theories, according to which the falling turnout was a generation effect, ie the newly voting age incoming generations would choose to go to a small extent.

To illustrate the extent of this phenomenon, sometimes the image of a "party of non-voters " were used: If all non-voters voted in favor of another, fictitious party, this would be strongest in some elections faction in parliament. From the high number of non-voters and the increasing numbers of invalid votes results in a large potential votes.

Bundestag elections

Overall, the choice of investments are in Germany ( still ) at a higher level compared to other countries (see Japan, USA) - despite the rather large crash of participation in the general election of 2009 compared to the election in 2005.

Youth

Overall, both in the total population ( 1980: 88.6 percent - 2002: 79.1 percent), as with the young people (up to 25 ) ( 1980: 79.65 percent - 2002: 69.15 percent), a decrease of voters to watch. As to 25 -year-old only eight percent of voters make up, they can not be responsible as a single group for the decrease in turnout. The difference between 1980 and 2002, so the decrease in the proportion of voters, among the young slightly more ( 10.5 percent ) than in the general population ( eight percent). Broken down by gender shows that young and older women always rare to choice but to go -matched men. As in the city shows up on the country distance from the turnout of the total population ( 6%) and a lower confidence in representative democracy.

National Socialism and the GDR

The unfree elections to the Reichstag in the era of National Socialism and the People's Chamber of the GDR significantly higher voter turnout were officially reported, as this would have been reached in free elections. The turnout was shown in the respective propaganda as an expression of popular support for the regime.

Voter turnout in parliamentary elections in National Socialism:

Voter turnout at elections in the GDR People's Chamber ( examples as the magnitude did not change ):

But even in the first free elections in the GDR on 18 March 1990, the turnout was very high, but then fell sharply to the first parliamentary elections in October and for the parliamentary elections in December of 1990:

Austria

1919-1930

Turnout in national elections of the First Republic in 1919:

Note: In 1919, no national election but an election of the Constituent National Assembly was held and is therefore in the table in parentheses.

Since 1945

Turnout in national elections of the Second Republic from 1945:

Note: The particularly high voter turnout from 1945 to 1986 can be explained among other things by the fact that there was (in a part of the federal states ) in Austria until the early 1990 elective.

Switzerland

In the semi - direct democratic political system in Switzerland, voters are not only entitled to elect the National Council, but can also take on Voters direct influence on government activities. As a sovereign, the people will be called for up to four times a year to elections or votes at the polls.

At votes and elections in Switzerland start in the long-term average some 45 percent of the voters, which is low by international standards. However, taking 75 percent of the eligible voters participated in at least one of seven urn transitions. Political science studies further show that about 25 percent of the electorate to participate in all elections and voting, 20 percent no, and 55 percent irregular.

In Switzerland, the index of choice and turnout, while passing by the number of choices or divides the number of the inserted election or ballot voters. Void or invalidated votes are included in the turnout.

The voter turnout in Switzerland declined in the 20th century. Still lag those in the first parliamentary elections by proportional representation in 1919 at 80.4 %, there were in 1999 only 43.4% of the voters who participated in the election. The greatest losses were observed in the three legislative periods from 1967 to 1979 - the turnout fell from 65.7 % (1967 ) by more than one quarter to 48.0 % ( 1979). The voter turnout in Switzerland is considered the lowest in a democratic country. The reasons for the low turnout are commonly seen in the political system. Through the concordance principle greater power exchange are excluded, so that the elections to lose explosiveness. From 1959 to 2003, it was the composition of the Bundesrat after a fixed formula, the magic formula. The magic formula was blown up in 2003 after the Swiss People's Party has seen big gains in 1999 and 2003 in the parliamentary elections in the years and laid claim to a second Federal Council seat. Another possible factor is the fact that voters in Switzerland are on the elections called additional times per year to take part in referendums on municipal, cantonal and federal level.

The following table shows the voter turnout in national elections since the introduction of proportional representation:

Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein is constitutionally defined as a "constitutional hereditary monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis ." For this reason, there are two sovereigns: the people on the one hand, and the Prince on the other. The people themselves can both directly democratic, as well as indirectly intervene in the political affairs. To this end, every 4 years state elections are conducted in a rule in which the 25 representatives of the people are determined. The Principality has traditionally been doing a very high turnout: While she has been lying to the 1980s, each at over 90 %, the turnout decreased up to the state elections in 2009 to around 85%.

USA

The turnout in presidential and parliamentary elections in the U.S. is significantly lower than the European average. In the presidential elections, turnout varies after 1944 from a maximum of 66.6 % in 2008 and so far the lowest voter turnout of 49% in the 1996 elections. Note: The rate of voter turnout in the USA is oversubscribed upwards, as a prerequisite for voting rights ( and thus the entry in a directory choice for taking in these statistics). Who can not be listed in a selection list, while not taking part in the election, but will not be counted as non-voters.

Other countries

In France, it is common not to specify the turnout, but Abstentions, ie the relative number of abstentions or non-voters, based on all (registered) voters.

In Spain, in elections always the Invalid (sp.: nulos ) and emptying ( sp.: votos en blanco ), which are also valid listed. As in Germany and Switzerland, they count with the valid election to the participants.

There are various other countries, such as Belgium or Australia instead of an option the elective. Citizens who do not vote then threatens mostly a fine, which can be high voter turnout.

In Switzerland, this concerns the Canton of Schaffhausen. As penance three Swiss francs is levied.