Voter turnout in gubernatorial primary elections varies tremendously from state to state. This analysis hypothesizes that the highly variable turnout is the result of specific circumstances unique to each election and to each state. Using multiple regression analysis, turnout in gubernatorial primaries was examined from 1968 to 1980. The analysis identified five variables that contribute to the variance in turnout across states.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BARONE, M.
, G. UJIFUSA, and D. MATTHEW (1980) The Almanac of American Politics.New York: E. P. Dutton.
2.
FLANIGAN, W. H.
and N. H. ZINGALE (1979) Political Behavior of the American Electorate.Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
3.
JEWELL, M. E.
(1978) “Participation in southern primaries.” Presented at the Citadel Symposium on Southern Politics, Charleston, S. C.February 16-18.
4.
JEWELL, M. E.
(1977) “Voting turnout in state gubernatorial primaries.”Western Pol. Q.30 (June): 236-254.
5.
JEWELL, M. E.
and D. M. OLSON (1982) American State Political Parties and Elections.Homewood, IL: Dorsey Press.
6.
KEY, V. O., Jr.
(1956) American State Politics: An Introduction.New York: Knopf.
7.
KEY, V. O., Jr.
(1964) Politics, Parties and Pressure Groups.New York: Cromwell.
8.
RANNEY, A.
(1976) “Parties in state politics,” in H. Jacobs and K. N. Vines (eds.) Politics in American States: A Comparative Analysis.Boston: Little, Brown.
9.
SCAMMON, R. M.
and A. V. McGILLIVRAY (1968-1980) America Votes.Washington, DC: Governmental Affairs Institute.
10.
SCAMMON, R. M.
(1979) State and Metropolitan Area Data Book 1979: A Statistical Abstract Supplement.Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
11.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
(1968-1980) Statistical Abstracts of the United States.Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
12.
VERBA, S.
and N. H. NIE (1972) Participation in America.NY: Harper & Row.
13.
WOLFINGER, R. E.
and S. J. ROSENSTONE (1980) Who Votes.New Haven, CT: Yale Univ. Press.
