Title: Voter turnout | MIT Election Lab
Headings: 
What is 'voter turnout'?
Measuring Turnout
Studying voter turnout
Can reforms increase turnout?
What if everyone voted?
Data Sources
Suggested Readings

Content: Voter turnout | MIT Election Lab
Provisional ballots
Voting by mail and absentee voting
Voting from abroad
Voter confidence
Voter registration
Voter identification
Voting technology
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What is 'voter turnout'? Measuring Turnout
Studying voter turnout
Can reforms increase turnout? What if everyone voted? Data Sources
Suggested Readings
Voter turnout is a measure of civic participation that many people believe best gauges the health of the electoral process. However, measuring turnout can be more difficult than it first appears, which means that understanding how and why it fluctuates can also be difficult. Important legislation in the twentieth century, most notably the Voting Rights Act of 1965, has led to a long-term increase in the ability of Americans to participate in elections. The effects of other legislation intended to increase turnout, such as the National Voter Registration Act, have been more limited to specific administrative practices across states. This explainer was last updated on April 28, 2021. What is 'voter turnout'? Because high voter turnout is considered a mark of a thriving democracy, policymakers and citizens often support electoral reform measures based on whether they will increase turnout, either overall or for particular groups.