Chat: Voter Turnout Expert Curtis Gans

Nov. 7 -- With the presidential race tighter than at any time in a generation, turnout could be the crucial factor in determining who wins. Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, joined an online Election Night discussion on voter turnout. Look below for a transcript of the chat.

Moderator

Curtis Gans, an expert on voter participation and turnout now joins our live discussion. Gans is director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate. Thanks for joining us.

Moderator

Do you expect turnout to be higher today than in recent elections because the presidential race is so close?

Curtis Gans

The way I want to answer that question is -- because I really do wait until the numbers come in and don't look at early polls -- if turnout is up, why is it up? First, I think all those polls that people hate make them feel the election was very close, and that their vote did make a difference. Secondly, I think because of that, undecided voters unenamoured of either candidate, decided not to stay home, but to make their choice. Third is an historic perspective, namely that during 40 years of declining participation, there have been individual elections in which we have had substantial rises in turnout and they all had one thing in common-- Jane Byrne vs Michael Bilandic in Chicago, and the racesthat involved Washington Dinkins and Stokes, the genteel Sandford when David Duke ran-- people felt there was something important to decide. At the end of this campaign, despite indications ofdisinterest, people decided there was something important to decide. We won't know quite what that decision was until the results are in.

Moderator

Are any particular issues that have motivated voters in this election?

Curtis Gans

I think it really depends on the person and the place. Bush supporters are essentially voting character, his basic theme of ending gridlock, and confidence in leadership and a conservative view of government. Gore's pitch appealed to minorities and union members. But people make decisions on complex motivations, and I don't think you could pick one determining issue in this election. There were negatives, like the Vice President's authenticity, but with the exit polls, I don't think we'll know what issue drove people to what vote.