Date
9-2018
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP)
Chair
Melissa Stewart
Keywords
Canvassing, Election, Marketing, Social Pressure, Turnout, Voting Abstract
Disciplines
American Politics | Other Political Science | Political Science | Political Theory
Recommended Citation
Pope, Elliot, "A New Formula for Voter Turnout" (2018). Masters Theses. 529.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/529
Abstract
This paper proposes a new, modified decision matrix for voter turnout: Likelihood of Voting = Personal Connection + Sense of Duty + Self-Interest – Difficulty in Voting – Sense of Apathy. It introduces a new variable, “Personal Connection.” This variable combines the important contributions of social pressure and canvassing research as a summary motivation of the two. In order to test this hypothesis, I complete an initial review of ANES data and a metanalysis of relevant literature. The conclusion is that there is enough data to support further research into the proposed formula and new variable for voter turnout.
