Comparing Local and Presidential Elections

Abstract

Examinations of voter turnout in local and national elections have generally been flawed by comparisons of samples from unlike populations and failures to employ appropriate multivariate techniques. Utilizing data from a single national sample, presidential and local electorates are compared. The results point to the similarities between the two, with geographic region and interest in politics being the foremost distinguishing factors. In addition to these variables, strength of partisanship, length of residence in the community, age, and education best discriminate between voters and nonvoters in both presidential and local elections.