American voter turnout : an institutional perspective / David Hill.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-173) and index.

Explanations of turnout -- Restricting access to the ballot box : the impact of registration laws on turnout -- Placing the United States in context : a comparative look at electoral systems -- Winner-take-all elections. Part I, The electoral college : strategy, mobilization, and turnout -- Winner-take-all elections. Part II, Competition, spending, and turnout in U.S. House elections -- The separation of powers : divided government, responsiveness, accountability, and turnout -- Conclusion : the future of electoral reform in the United States.

"Using a combination of existing and original research, this new text provides a simple explanation for the low turnout in American elections: rather than creating an environment conducive to participation, the institutional arrangements that structure participation, representation, and actual governance in the United States create an environment that discourages widespread participation. To explore this argument, the author examines the origins and development of registration laws; single-member districts such as the Electoral College; the separation of powers; and the impact these institutions have on turnout levels in American national elections. To this end, the text discusses the impact of institutions on turnout in the United States and across nations, supported with extensive yet accessible data analysis. Hill not only provides students with explanations for the low turnout characteristic of American elections, but also demonstrates the powerful impact of institutions on political life"--Jacket.