by Karl Kurtz
Continuing the theme of odd-year elections, today's Washington Post has an interesting story and graphic showing turnout over time in different types of elections in Virginia. It shows that turnout is highest in the even-numbered presidential election years. Second place in voter turnout bounces around between odd-year gubernatorial elections and even-year congressional-only elections. More often than not, the odd-numbered election years in which only the House of Delegates and the Senate are up for election, like the one today, have the lowest voter turnout.
Part of the problem is a lack of competitive races:
“Only about one-third of legislative races are even contested, so we’re looking at extremely low turnout,” said Michael McDonald, a George Mason University professor who studies voting behavior. “Most of the state is not looking at a competitive election.”
Only 27 of Virginia's 100 House districts have both a Democrat and a Republican running in them. In the Senate, where party control is in the balance, 25 of 40 (63 percent) seats are being contested by both parties.
A minor quibble (and explanation) about the graphic: The line labeled "Governor" would be more accurately identified as "Governor and House." The governor and members of the Senate both have four-year terms, but they never run at the same time. Members of the House, with two-year terms, run one time with the governor and one time with the Senate in every four-year cycle.
Graphic: Cristina Rivero, The Washington Post
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