Stimulating Voter Turnout in a Primary

Abstract

This study reports on a field experiment of a precinct committeeman's efforts to stimulate voter turnout in the 1980 primary election. The experimentally manipulated variables included both the number and timing of the turnout appeals as well as the channel of communication used to deliver the appeal (i.e., telephone versus mail versus face to face). In general, it was found that whether or not the turnout appeals had any effect whatsoever, whether or not multiple contacts were better than just a single contact, whether earlier or later contacts were the more effective, and whether or not appeals were most effective when presented over a particular channel, all effects clearly depended upon the age of the recipients of the appeal messages.