Primary Systems and Voter Turnout: Measuring the Institutional Effect of Primary Type on Voter Turnout

Using the 1990, 1994 and 1998 Congressional mid-term elections, this study looks at whether the type of primary system in a person's state has an effect on whether or not that person will vote in the general election. The five types of primary systems (closed, semi-closed, semiopen, open and blanket) are explained as well as traditional factors for likelihood of voting. It is hypothesized that the more closed the primary system, the less likely a person is to vote. Data analysis shows that when significant, living in an open primary state does significantly increase the likelihood that a person will vote. However, primary type was significant in only six of the nine models studied here.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Lott, Leslie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Day, Christine
• Chervenak, Edward E.
• Montjoy, Robert S.

• Primary systems
• Closed primary
• Semi-closed primary
• Semi-open primary
• Open primary
• Blanket primary
• Voter turnout

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/956

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1937