ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the "big picture" of electoral turnout: research at the aggregate or macro-level in search of temporal, contextual, and institutional explanations of variation in turnout. It begins with a brief review of the field and its methodology, moving on to assess the extent of change over time. Ups and downs in the development of habits of voting or non-voting might remain relatively constant around a mean without any clear trend toward higher or lower competitiveness. The chapter reviews debates and empirical evidence about the possible consequences of variation in turnout for partisan politics, public policy, and social and economic inequality. The PR debate inevitably draws on the analysis of electoral competitiveness. Debate continues about electoral turnout trends. The chapter concludes by addressing the reasons for variation in turnout, with particular attention to the order of elections, competitiveness, and electoral systems.
