Voter turnout is one of the crucial indicators of how citizens participate in the governance of their country.

Higher voter turnout is in most cases a sign of the vitality of democracy, while lower turnout is usually associated with voter apathy and mistrust of the political process.

Voter turnout is an important indicator of how citizens participate in the governance of their country.

Higher voter turnout is often a sign of the vitality of democracy, while lower turnout is usually associated with voter apathy and mistrust of the political process.

This report discusses the problem of low youth voter turnout internationally, explores its causes and suggests practical ways to raise young people’s interest and participation in politics. It includes statistical illustrations, graphics and samples of posters and voter materials from around the world.

The past several decades have witnessed a general decline in voter turnout throughout the world, and, while there is little agreement as to what specifically constitutes a good level of turnout, recent declines in many countries have raised concern among governments, non-governmental organizations, and citizens.

This regional report on voter turnout is based on the IDEA Voter Turnout Database, which contains statistics from 170 countries for parliamentary and presidential elections since 1945 and is continually updated.

International IDEA’s Voter Turnout Database provides updated and reliable information about voter turnout from around the world. This report includes statistics from more than 1,600 parliamentary and presidential elections in over 170 countries held between the end of World War II and 2002.