Factors of Voter Turnout: Effects of Habit, Social Pressure, and Gerrymandering on Voting Behavior

Voter turnout is an essential metric for the health of a democracy; however, our nation has a particularly low rate of voter turnout. This thesis explores the relationship between turnout and three factors that may affect it: voting habit, social pressure, and gerrymandering. In an effort to understand and boost turnout, political scientists have studied whether gerrymandering may decrease turnout by lowering voter efficacy and confidence. While evidence for this theory remains unclear, studies of the formation of voting habit and effects of social influence imply that turnout efforts with a normative approach may be more effective in raising voter participation long-term.