Issue in Brief

the shape of the issue

Bill in Brief

The scoop

Facts

For the world's oldest democracy, America doesn't have the best rep when it comes to voting. This page takes a look at exactly how civic minded we are on election day.

Also, the 2000 presidential election put punch cards problems on centerstage, but the modern electronic alternatives that were supposed to be an improvement in '04 presented their own accuracy and security problems.

Finally, ballot initiatives are an old, but ongoing, story; critics complain that while they put the people directly in the decision making role, they don't always make for rational long-term policy, but instead lock legislators into fixed funding promises.

Voter participation

2004 Presidential election WP

• 60.7% of eligible voters went to the polls

• Breakdown (% that voted) WP *