A variety of factors can influence how many people vote in a given election. The most obvious factor is age, with older voters voting at a higher rate than younger ones. Gender is also a factor, with women voting at slightly higher rates than men. Education has some effect as well, with those with more education (including a bachelor’s or advanced degree) voting at higher rates than those with less education. Income is another factor, with wealthier Americans voting at a higher rate than poorer citizens. Electoral competitiveness can also impact turnout, with states that are more competitive in presidential elections seeing a higher turnout than those that are not.
The type of election also influences turnout, with those for local offices (e.g., mayor) usually seeing lower turnout than national or gubernatorial elections. The day of the week can have a significant impact as well, with Sundays tending to boost turnout while Saturdays depress it. Lastly, convenience can have a substantial effect, with those living closer to their polling locations more likely to vote than those that live farther away.
In terms of policy, the best way to increase participation is through policies that nudge citizens to vote, such as making it easier for them to do so by reducing barriers like early voting and same-day registration. However, more voters alone will not reduce polarization, and we need to address the underlying factors driving it in order to truly have democracy work.