Priming Democracy (II)

Grist for the mill, from the WashPost (via Spector)

Grist for the mill, from the WashPost (via Spector)

And telling people what everyone in the neighborhood had done the previous Election Day — and letting them know that they would be similarly informed about the current election — boosted turnout by 27 percent.

The whole piece is very good, and is more support for the view that voting behaviour is largely a function of social pressure. The biggest factor negatively affecting voter turnout was — surprise surprise — the private ballot. Maybe everyone who keeps whining about how FPP is ruining democracy should change tacks and start rallying for a return to the public ballot.

I kid, of course. The secret ballot is already on its way out.