Low Turnout?

[stickmaker]

Kentucky election officials are predicting a low turnout, perhaps around 40%.

I'm not sure I agree, but see why they might think that.

I'm also wondering how a 40% turnout compares to what other states see as a "low turnout." I don't recall any hard numbers but the impression I have is that most states would consider 40% a good turnout.

Comments

[solarbird]

I don't know about lots of other states, but I know that in Washington State, 40% would be considered a very low turnout - only one-issue off-year special elections would be expected to be lower. Some of them go as low as 36%-38%. They tend to be single-county elections for things like school board bonds.

Major elections get 60% or more, and that number is creeping towards 70% as mail-in balloting becomes more standard.

[stickmaker.livejournal.com]

Well, that means my vote counts more. I'll tell folks around here that if they think I will vote the way they want, they can just stay home. ;-)