Did Ending the Military Draft Reduce U.S. Voter Participation? An Exploratory Investigation
نویسندگان
چکیده
This exploratory study examines the impact of ending the military draft on U.S. voter turnout from 1960 through 2006. After allowing for a number of variables, including the unemployment rate, unionization, the female labor force participation rate, per capita real GDP, and Presidential approval ratings, compelling evidence is found that ending the military draft in the U.S. may have acted in and of itself to reduce the aggregate voter participation rate. Specifically, the end of military conscription may have reduced voter turnout by about 7.5 percentage points, ceteris paribus.
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