# voter turnout

German voter participation in the European elections
Participation in the German federal elections

The voter turnout reflects the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted in an election . Depending on the respective regional authority , those who have inserted an empty ballot paper or an invalid one are also counted among the voters. In public the term is mostly used in connection with political elections, but it can also be used in relation to other elections. In political elections, it is a form of political participation .

## definition

The turnout is usually defined as the ratio of participating voters to the total number of all eligible voters:

${\ displaystyle {\ text {Voter turnout}} = {\ frac {{\ text {W}} {\ ddot {\ text {a}}} {\ text {hler}}} {\ text {Voters}}} \ cdot 100 \, \%}$

For example, in the Austrian National Council election in 2008, the number of people entitled to vote was 6,333,109, of which 4,990,952 people actually voted. This results in a turnout of 78.81%. It can also be seen in this example that the number of ballots cast (number of voters) is the sum of the valid (4,887,309) and invalid (103,643) ballots. This method of calculation also applies in Germany and Switzerland. The number of voters is thus also the result of the total number of those entitled to vote minus the number of non-voters .

With this definition it should be taken into account that in some countries registration is required in order to be included in the electoral roll. In 2004, for example, the share of registered voters in the USA was 79% of those of voting age. The turnout based on all people of voting age was therefore only 55.27%.

## Germany

In federal elections , the turnout (quota) was mostly over 85 percent until 1983, and since 1987 mostly below 80 percent. In state elections it is usually more than 50 percent, in local elections more than 45 percent. In the 2014 European elections it was 48.1 percent.

The highest voter turnout in free elections so far was in the Volkskammer election in 1990 in the GDR with 93.4 percent and in the 1972 federal election with 91.1 percent, the lowest (as of 2016) in the 2009 Bundestag election with 70.8 percent.

There is no minimum voter participation in Germany , i. that is, there is no minimum number of votes cast below which the election would be invalid. Blank ballot papers are considered invalid according to the Federal Election Act ( Section 39 Federal Election Act ).

At the federal, state, district and local levels, voter turnout has declined since its peak in the 1970s. The reasons for this downward trend, commonly known as electoral fatigue , are controversial. The normalization hypothesis refers to the historically and internationally unusually high voter turnout in Germany in the 50s and 60s and interprets the decline as normalization. Some political scientists and sociologists attribute this to the falling trust in party democracy due to broken election promises . In addition, the political differences between the parties are becoming more and more difficult to recognize (“ political disaffection ”). There is also the theory that falling voter turnout is a generational effect; In other words, a small number of the new cohorts entering the voting age would vote.

In order to illustrate the extent of this phenomenon, the image of a “party of non-voters” is sometimes used: If all non-voters had voted for another, fictitious party, this would be the strongest parliamentary group in some elections. The high number of non-voters and the increasing number of invalid votes result in a great potential for votes.

### Bundestag elections

Participation in federal elections (1949-2017)
in% of eligible voters
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
49
53
57
61
65
69
72
76
80
83
87
90
94
98
02
05
09
13
17th
Bundestag election Voter turnout in%
1949 78.5
1953 86.0
1957 87.8
1961 87.7
1965 86.8
1969 86.7
1972 91.1
1976 90.7
1980 88.6
1983 89.1
1987 84.3
1990 77.8
1994 79.0
1998 82.2
2002 79.1
2005 77.7
2009 70.8
2013 71.5
2017 76.2

Overall, voter turnout in Germany is at a higher level than in other countries (see Japan, USA) - despite the rather large drop in participation in the 2009 Bundestag election compared to the 2005 election.

### Teenagers

Overall, there is a decrease in the number of voters both among the entire population (1980: 88.6 percent - 2002: 79.1 percent) and among young people (up to 25) (1980: 79.65 percent - 2002: 69.15 percent) to observe. Since the up to 25-year-olds make up only eight percent of the electorate, they cannot be the only group responsible for the decrease in voter turnout. The difference between 1980 and 2002, i.e. the decrease in the proportion of voters, is somewhat greater among young people (10.5 percentage points) than among the population as a whole (eight percent). Broken down by gender, it can be seen that young and older women are always less likely to vote than men of the same age. As in the city, in rural areas there is a gap between the turnout of the general population (6%) and a lower level of trust in representative party democracy.

### National Socialism and GDR

In the unfree elections to the Reichstag during the time of National Socialism and the People's Chamber in the GDR , significantly higher voter turnouts were officially shown than would have been possible with free elections. The turnout was portrayed in the respective propaganda as an expression of popular support for the regime.

Participation in the Reichstag elections under National Socialism, in which only one party ( NSDAP ) was allowed:

Reichstag election Voter turnout in%
1933 95.2
1936 99.0
1938 99.6

Participation in the Volkskammer elections of the GDR (examples, since the order of magnitude did not change):

Volkskammer election Voter turnout in%
1950 99.7
1986 99.74

But even in the first free elections in the GDR on March 18, 1990, the turnout was very high, but then fell sharply in the first state elections in October and the federal election in December 1990:

Volkskammer election Voter turnout in%
1990 93.38

## Austria

### 1919 to 1930

Participation in the National Council elections of the first republic from 1919:

National Council election Voter turnout in% Compared to the last
election (in percentage points )
( 1919 ) (93.27) -
1920 84.4 (−8.87)
1923 87.0 +2.6
1927 89.3 +2.3
1930 90.2 +0.9

Note: In 1919 there was no election to the National Council, but an election to the constituent National Assembly and is therefore in brackets in the table.

### Since 1945

Participation in the National Council elections of the second republic from 1945:

National Council election Voter turnout in% Compared to the last
election (in percentage points )
1945 93.27 -
1949 95.49 +2.22
1953 94.15 −1.34
1956 94.31 +0.16
1959 92.90 −1.41
1962 92.73 −0.17
1966 92.74 +0.01
1970 90.95 −1.79
1971 91.42 +0.47
1975 91.92 +0.50
1979 91.18 −0.74
1983 91.29 +0.11
1986 88.85 −3.07
1990 83.58 −5.27
1994 80.24 −3.34
1995 83.08 +2.84
1999 80.42 −2.66
2002 84.27 +3.85
2006 78.48 −5.79
2008 78.81 +0.33
2013 74.42 −4.39
2017 80.00 +5.58

Note: The particularly high voter turnout from 1945 to 1986 can be explained by the fact that (in some of the federal states ) voting was compulsory in Austria until the beginning of the 1990s .

## Switzerland

The number of options for voting, the “ ballot box ”, is unique in Switzerland in the world - all government, cantonal and communal elections and referenda on constitutions, laws, financial proposals, popular initiatives, referendums, etc. combined.

In the “semi- direct democraticpolitical system of Switzerland , those entitled to vote and to vote (the sovereign , the people , at the federal level not only men → women's suffrage in Switzerland ) are not only entitled to vote for their representatives ( municipality -, cantons - , National and Council of States , as well as the executive ), but also to exert direct influence on government and legislative activities through voting . There are four annual voting dates for this purpose. There are also elections for one of these “ ballots ” (in the usual rhythm of the legislature).

In Switzerland, voter participation is calculated by dividing the number of ballots or ballot papers submitted and inserted by the number of those entitled to vote. Votes or votes that have been made invalid are included in the voting / voter turnout.

${\ displaystyle {\ text {Voting / voter participation}} = {\ tfrac {\ text {Voting / ballot papers}} {\ text {Voters / voters}}} \ cdot 100 \, \%}$

### Voting and election participation

In Switzerland, around 45 percent of those entitled to vote take part in votes and elections on average over many years, which in itself would be low in an international comparison. However, such comparisons do not take into account the fact that in a legislative period of (usually) four years there are sixteen voting dates, plus several voting topics ( proposals ). So it happens that political participation in Switzerland is massively underestimated in such comparisons.

Average turnout per vote, since 1951
10 year averages
1951-1960
50.3%
1961-1970
44.5%
1971-1980
41.2%
1981-1990
40.6%
1991-2000
43.0%
2001-2010
45.2%
2011-2020
46.4%
100% (for comparison)

More thorough, more in-depth political studies show a different picture - three quarters of all voters “more or less” regularly “go to the ballot box ”, as a study by the University of Zurich and the Center for Democracy Aarau showed that the data from the cantons of Geneva and St. Gallen evaluated. In the city of St. Gallen over a period of around half a legislative period (seven voting dates). The evaluation shows that during this period, 75% of those eligible to vote took part in at least one of the seven “ ballots ” (with several submissions) that the study recorded. Furthermore, around 25% of those eligible to vote take part in all elections and votes, 20% in none, and 55% irregularly.

In the by Uwe Serdülle et al. examined the period 2010 to the beginning of 2012 with three voting dates per year at that time - i.e. three dates each in 2010 and 2011, one in 2012, a total of seven in a little over half a legislative period - 47% to 55 participated in the city of St. Gallen (see also graphic below) % of individual votes, 58% to 63% of one of two, 66% to 67% of one of three, 69% to 71% of one of four, 71% to 73% of one of five, 74% of one of six, 75% on one in seven. For the entire period of one legislature (plus another six votes, Q2 2010 to Q1 2014) the participation was 81.3% (in one of fifteen votes). In addition, there are the elections (at the federal level National Council and Council of States ), which are not included in the study , which means that the overall turnout is slightly higher.

Average turnout, city of St. Gallen
participation in
seven votes, 2010 to early 2012

47% to 55%
one of two
58% to 63%
one of three
66% to 67%
one of four
69% to 71%
one of five
71% to 73%
one of six
74%
one of seven
75%

fifteen votes, 2nd quarter 2010 to 1st quarter 2014
one in fifteen
81%
100% (for comparison)

#### voter turnout

The voter turnout in Switzerland is - in those studies that consider it by isolated ballot / ballot - considered to be the "lowest in a democratic country". The reasons for this are generally seen in their political system . The principle of concordance means that sudden, major changes of power - as was common in the early days of Swiss democracy - are ruled out. As a result, the elections, compared to other countries - where elections are the focus of political participation - lose their "explosiveness".

Political participation in Switzerland is "massively higher" - around 75% to 80%. The decisive factor here is the high “density” of political participation, which in Switzerland mainly takes place in votes (see also voting and voter participation above ). Those entitled to vote are “called” every third month to take part in referendums at communal, cantonal and federal level. The elections, also at the communal, cantonal and federal level, take place in addition to one of the voting dates, in the rhythm of the respective legislative period that is usual elsewhere (usually four years).

#### Participation in the National Council elections

The turnout in Switzerland fell in the 20th century. In the first national council elections based on the proportional representation system in 1919, this figure was 80.4%, in 1999 it was only 43.4% of those entitled to vote who took part in the election. The greatest losses were observed in the three legislative periods from 1967 to 1979 - voter turnout fell from 65.7% (1967) by more than a quarter to 48.0% (1979).

The following table shows the turnout in National Council elections since the introduction of proportional representation :

National Council election Voter turnout in% Compared to the last
election (in percentage points )
1919 80.4 -
1922 76.4 −4.0
1925 76.8 +0.4
1928 78.8 +2.0
1931 78.8 0.0
1935 78.3 −0.5
1939 74.3 −4.0
1943 70.0 −4.3
1947 72.4 +2.4
1951 71.2 −1.2
1955 70.1 −1.1
1959 68.5 −1.6
1963 66.1 −2.4
1967 65.7 −0.4
1971 56.9 −8.8
1975 52.4 −4.5
1979 48.0 −4.4
1983 48.9 +0.9
1987 46.5 −2.4
1991 46.0 −0.5
1995 42.2 −3.8
1999 43.3 +1.1
2003 45.2 +1.9
2007 48.3 +3.1
2011 48.5 +0.2
2015 48.5 0.0
2019 45.1 −3.4

## Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein is constitutionally defined as a “constitutional hereditary monarchy on a democratic-parliamentary basis” - with two sovereigns . The people on the one hand and the sovereign on the other. The people themselves can intervene in political events both directly and indirectly democratically. The state elections , in which 25 representatives are chosen, usually take place every 4 years.

Traditionally, voter turnout in the principality is very high. While it was over 90% in each case until the 1980s, it fell to around 85% by the state elections in 2009 .

State elections Voter turnout in% Compared to the last
election (in percentage points )
1945 93.3 -
1949 91.9 −1.4
1953 a 90.7 −1.2
1953 b 93.3 +2.6
1957 93.4 +0.1
1958 96.4 +3.0
1962 94.9 −1.9
1966 95.6 +0.7
1970 94.9 −0.7
1974 95.6 +0.7
1978 95.7 +0.1
1982 95.4 −0.3
1986 93.3 −2.1
1989 90.9 −2.1
1993 a 87.5 −3.4
1993 b 85.3 −2.2
1997 86.9 +1.6
2001 86.8 −0.1
2005 86.5 −0.3
2009 84.6 −1.9
2013 79.8 −4.8
2017 77.8 −2.0

## United States

The turnout in presidential and parliamentary elections in the USA is significantly lower than the European average. In the presidential elections, voter turnout fluctuated between 49% and 65% after 1900.

year Eligible voters
(in millions)
Registered voters
(in millions)
Voter turnout
(in%)
1824 26.9
1860 81.2
1900 73.2
1944 56.1
1948 51.1
1952 61.6
1956 59.3
1960 109.67 63.85 62.8
1964 114.09 73.71 61.4
1968 120.33 81.66 60.7
1972 140.78 97.28 55.1
1976 152.31 105.02 53.6
1980 164.60 113.04 52.8
1984 174.47 124.18 53.3
1988 182.63 126.38 50.3
1992 189.04 133.82 55.2
1996 196.51 146.21 49.0
2000 205.81 156.42 50.3
2004 197.01 142.07 63.8
2008 206.07 146.31 63.6
2012 215.08 153.16 61.8

## Other countries

In France , it is customary not to indicate participation in the vote , but rather abstentions , i.e. the relative number of abstentions or non-voters , based on all (registered) voters.

In Spain elections always include the invalid ( esp . : nulos) and the empty ones (esp .: votos en blanco) , which are also invalid. As in Germany and Switzerland, they count among the electoral participants with the valid ones.

In various other countries, such as Belgium or Australia, voting is compulsory instead of the right to vote . Citizens who do not vote are then usually threatened with a fine , which means that voter turnout is high.

In Switzerland this affects the canton of Schaffhausen . A fine of six Swiss francs is levied.

## literature

• Markus Freitag : voter turnout in western democracies. An analysis to explain differences in level . In: Swiss Political Science Review , 2.4, 1996, pp. 1-35
• Klaus Armingeon: Reasons and consequences of low voter turnout . In: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie , 46.1, 1994, pp. 43–64

Germany

• Rolf Becker: voter participation over the life course . In: KZfSS Cologne journal for sociology and social psychology , 54.2, 2002, pp. 246–263
• Ursula Feist: Low voter turnout - normalization or crisis symptom of democracy in Germany . In: Protest voters and those who refused to vote. Crisis of democracy . 1992, pp. 40-57
• Dieter Roth: Falling voter turnout - more normalization than a symptom of crisis . In: Karl Starzacher, Konrad Schacht, Bernd Friedrich, Thomas Leif (eds.): Protest voters and refusers. Crisis of democracy . 1992, pp. 58-68

Switzerland

• S. Veya: L'abstentionnisme , lic. Neuchâtel / Neuchâtel, 1992 (French)
• Alois Riklin : abstinence from voting and direct democracy , 1981
• Leonhard Neidhart: Causes of the current abstinence from voting in Switzerland , 1977
• Urs Engler: Voting Participation and Democracy , 1973
• Paul Trappe (Ed.): Participation and Abstinence , 1973

Wiktionary: voter turnout  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

## Individual evidence

1. ^ Result of the 2009 Bundestag election. Federal Returning Officer Germany
2. voter turnout in% 1971-2007. ( Memento of November 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Statistics Switzerland
3. a b
4. Werner T. Bauer: When the voters are less, Vienna, August 2004 (PDF).
5. Low voter turnout as a problem . Deutsche Welle September 13, 2005
6. ^ Official election results of the Federal Returning Officer
7. ^ Official final result of the elections for the 10th People's Chamber on March 18, 1990
8. Results of the Austrian National Council elections from 1919–1930 ( Memento from February 27, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 11 kB)
9. ^ Leonhard Neidhart: Voting and voter participation. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland . 28.3.2017 .
10. Blank voting dates . Overview of planned voting dates for the next few years on admin.ch
12. Uwe Serdülle : Average Annual Turnout for Swiss Referendum Votes, 1879-2013 . Evaluation of the data from C2D and BSF / admin.ch , October 2012 (updated 2013), on his blog, uweserdult.wordpress.com (engl.)
13. a b Martin Senti: Switzerland is “democratic mediocrity” - Switzerland is democracy per se, according to popular opinion. But now a new rating has declared Switzerland to a certain extent a democratic developing country . In: NZZ , January 28, 2011
14. ^ A b Marc Bühlmann , Wolfgang Merkel , Bernhard Weßels , Lisa Müller : The Quality of Democracy. Democracy Barometer for Established Democracies , Working Paper 10a, NCCR, SNF , Zurich 2008 (engl.)
15. a b Quality of Democracy - Democracy Barometer for Established Democracies . 2005-…, project portal on WZB -Web (wzb.eu)
16. a b
17. a b c Uwe Serdäne ( UZH , ZDA ): Participation as a norm and artefact in Swiss voting democracy: demystification of the average voter participation on the basis of voting register data from the city of St. Gallen. In: Andrea Good et al .: Direct Democracy: Challenges between Politics and Law: Festschrift for Andreas Auer on his 65th birthday , Stämpfli, Bern 2013, pp. 41–50 / in English: Uwe Serdäne: Switzerland . In: Matt Qvortrup (Ed.): Referendums around the World: The Continued Growth of Direct Democracy . Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke 2013
18. a b c Uwe Serdäne : Who is (not) participating and why? - Participation of citizens in participatory processes . Democracy Conference 2013 ( Info Kanton AG / Info Land BW ), State Government Baden-Wuerttemberg , Government Council of the Canton Aargau in cooperation with University of Konstanz and Center for Democracy Aarau (ZDA), Stuttgart, 20.-21. June 2013 (video, 15 min, on vimeo.com)
19. a b Articles by Uwe Serdäne - Ritsumeikan University & University of Zurich , on his blog (uweserdult.wordpress.com, see there also Publications ; engl.)
20. a b c Uwe Serdäne : How many voters of the St. Gallen electorate got mobilized to turn out at least once in four years? (81.3% in four years 2011-2014 with fifteen votes), analysis of data from the statistics of the canton of St. Gallen , May 6, 2014, on his blog, uweserdult.wordpress.com (English)
21. a b Uwe Serdült : Cumulative Turnout in a Swiss city . , November 3, 2013. on his blog, uweserdult.wordpress.com (engl.)
22. Turnout (Federal Statistical Office). Retrieved February 26, 2020 .
23. U. S. Census Bureau ( Memento of October 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 45 kB; English).
24. ^ Voting and Registration Tables. U.S. Census Bureau; accessed on February 12, 2017.
25. Law on the votes and elections to be carried out by the people and on the exercise of the people's rights (election law) of March 15, 1904. Art. 9. In: Schaffhauser Rechtsbuch 1997, p. 4 , accessed on September 8, 2019 .
26. Fines for non-voters. ( Memento from July 20, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Video In: 10vor10 from October 3, 2011 (4:31 minutes)