Brookings: Topics - Voter Turnout

Red and Blue Nation

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:38:59 GMT

Fixing the U.S. Election System: Is a Democracy Index the Answer?

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 07, 2009, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

On April 7, the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project, in cooperation with Yale Law School, hosted a discussion with Professor Heather Gerken on her recent book, The Democracy Index: Why Our Election System is Failing and How to Fix It (Princeton University Press, 2008).

Early Voters Deluge States

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Well over ten million people have already cast their ballots for this November’s much-anticipated presidential election, marking a dramatic change in how Americans vote. Michael McDonald writes that Barack Obama’s campaign has successfully turned out supporters in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. In Georgia, for instance, more people have voted early for 2008 than all who voted early there in 2004.

The Waning Days of the 2008 Presidential Election

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:13:12 GMT

Thomas Mann says that, with the presidential debates and months of campaigning behind us, the electorate has largely made their decision. In the waning days before the election, Mann suggests that the candidates should focus on mobilizing voters and underscoring the messages.

The Election of the Century

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The impending presidential election may be the election of a century, writes Michael McDonald. Record primary voting, floods of new registrations, more small campaign donors and highly rated political conventions show that people are intensely interested in the upcoming election. However, will we have a record voter turnout?

Can Obama Carry the Evangelical Vote?

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

E.J. Dionne joins George Will, Michael Gerson and Jan Crawford Greenburg on This Week with George Stephanopoulos to discuss the impact of evangelical voters in election 2008.

The Myth of a Toss-up Election

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

News media depict the 2008 presidential election as hotly contested and essentially up for grabs. After reviewing historical patterns, structural features of this election cycle, and national and state polls conducted over the last several months, Thomas Mann, Alan Abramowitz and Larry Sabato dispel the myth of the toss-up election.

Vote Like Thy Neighbor

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The ideological differences between the political parties are growing, write Pietro Nivola and William Galston, and political polarization has become akin to political segregation. You are less likely to live near someone whose politics differ from your own. While many Americans want less polarization, they argue, "the underlying structure of our politics remains so deeply divided, the 2008 election may not requite their wish."

Democratic Nod in Barack Obama’s Reach

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Voters in North Carolina and Indiana padded Barack Obama’s popular vote margin by more than 200,000. William Galston writes that continuing warning signs remain. Obama doesn't have a strong base among religious and more moderate voters. Plus, if nominated, he must reunite the party.

Pennsylvania Speaks: The Democratic Contest Will Continue

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the Pennsylvania primary, Hillary Clinton won an overwhelming victory, writes senior fellow William Galston. These results have quieted calls for her to leave the race and will probably slow the steady flow of superdelegates to Obama. Nonetheless, her path to the nomination remains steep.

Obama Criticized for 'Bitter' Blue-Collar Remarks

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Visiting Fellow Ruy Teixeira and experts appear on NPR's Talk of the Nation to discuss the Pennsylvania primary and the working-class vote.

The Decline of the White Working Class and the Rise of a Mass Upper Middle Class

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this Brookings working paper, Visting Fellow Ruy Teixeira and Alan Abramowitz at Emory examine shifts in U.S. class structure, including the decline of the white working class and the rise of a mass upper middle class, and discuss their political implications.

How and When Experience in a President Counts

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Experience has become a dominant issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. Charles Jones examines the CVs of the three remaining contenders and explores whether prior White House experience is a guarantee for success and how the historical experience of experience might apply to 2008.

Michigan and Florida Recount Controversy

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Calling for a revote of the Democratic primary elections in Michigan and Florida seems like a perfectly reasonable proposal, writes Thomas Mann, but the costs of revotes would outweigh the benefits.

Get Out the Vote: Understanding Voter Mobilization

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 20, 2008, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

The Brookings Institution Press hosted a discussion of voter mobilization based on the findings of the book Get Out the Vote: How to Increase Voter Turnout, Second edition. Co-authors Donald P. Green and Alan S. Gerber summarized the latest findings and explained how they affect organizing the grass roots and getting out the vote.

March 4 Primaries: One Nomination Settled; One Muddled

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As the certain GOP presidential candidate, John McCain starts the long dash to November, while Democratic contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will continue to sprint for voters and superdelegates. William Galston writes that only prudent foresight among Democratic party leaders will ward off controversy and chaos that might ensue if their party's nomination goes all the way to the convention.

The Search for the Next Soccer Mom: Trends to Watch in 2008

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The evolution of American politics is bound up with demographic and geographic change. So what are the trends to watch in 2008? A number of them are examined by Visiting Fellow Ruy Teixeira and AEI's Karlyn Bowman.

Race, Immigration and America’s Changing Electorate

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

William Frey presents findings on how race and immigration will impact the political geography of the presidential election in November. While conventional wisdom holds that black, Hispanic and Asian minorities are clustered in specific regions and locales, Frey’s research shows that this is changing dramatically. He examines how these race and ethnic groups differ from each other on key political issues and provides an assessment of their projected impact in key "purple" battleground states for future elections.

Religion and the Swing Vote

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

February 11, 2008, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

E.J. Dionne in Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith & Politics after the Religious Right (Princeton University Press, 2008) claims millions of religious Americans are reclaiming faith, exhausted with a religious style in politics that was excessively dogmatic, partisan and ideological. Joining the discussion were Richard Cizik, a top official of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Peter Steinfels, co-director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University and religion columnist for The New York Times.

Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics After the Religious Right

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Expert E.J. Dionne discusses his new book Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics After the Religious Right and the role of religion in politics on Washingtonpost.com Book World.

Collapsible Candidates from Iowa to New Hampshire

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A comeback victory in New Hampshire to Hillary Clinton and John McCain leaves a wide open race for both parties as the candidates continue their campaigns for the presidential nomination. Brookings Michael McDonald examines how the dynamic of the presidential election can swiftly and stunningly change, as it did in on Tuesday.

Causes, Defining Moments Line Road to S.C. Primary

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Senior Fellow E.J. Dionne joins David Brooks of the New York Times to discuss the New Hampshire primary results and candidates' futures on NPR's All Things Considered.

The Future of Red, Blue and Purple America

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A key contributor to political polarization in the U.S. frequently overlooked is the demographic and geographic changes in the electorate that have altered the sizes of different population groups and even shifted their political orientations over time. Brookings Ruy Teixeira examines the new wave of demographic and geographic changes currently washing over the U.S. and their profound effects on future politics.

The Youth Vote

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 05, 2007, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Voter turnout by young people will be crucial in the 2008 election. Harvard University’s Institute of Politics (IOP) has been conducting regular polling of America’s college students for seven years, highlighting key trends and issues related to politics and public service. On December 5, Brookings’s Opportunity 08 Project and the IOP released the findings of the Fall 2007 Youth Survey on Politics and Public Service.

The Young Vote: Engaging America’s Youth in the 2008 Elections and Beyond

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Many young people believe that the 2008 presidential candidates have not yet tried very hard to engage them. Cali Carlin recommends in a new Opportunity 08 paper that candidates should make more concerted efforts to address the policies and issues of key concern to younger Americans.

Moroccan Roulette: What Happens if You Hold an Election and Nobody Comes?

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that elections in Morocco are the latest step in a gradual move towards reform under King Mohammed IV. She argues that offering a vote is not enough, and that "he [King Mohammed] will have to strengthen parliament and the mainstream political parties, giving them a real capacity to act on voters' concerns and reducing his own power in the process."

Congressional Races

Wed, 27 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Thomas E. Mann, The Diane Rehm Show (10/27/04)

Clearing the Rubble: American Politics Makes a New Beginning

Wed, 01 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by E.J. Dionne, Jr. (Spring 2000)