AP: Despite Record Campaign Spending, Voter Apathy Remains
Major Spending On Elections Met With Total Apathy By Voters
By PHILIP ELLIOTT, AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than half the states to hold primary elections so far have seen record-low turnouts, according to a nonpartisan survey of voter rolls released Monday. That perhaps is a sign of widespread apathy within both political parties ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Of the almost 123 million voters who were eligible to cast ballots in primaries, only 18 million have done so, and states with same-day voter registration actually saw their turnout rates drop, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate. Despite heavy campaign spending that is poised to make history, 15 of the 25 states that have held statewide primary elections each reported a record low percentage of voters who cast ballots.
The low turnout comes amid high stakes. Republicans are driving for the six-seat gain required to control the Senate.
Nonetheless, Democrats saw a 29 percent decline from 2010’s primaries, the 11th consecutive midterm elections to see a drop in participation.