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Vote r Pa rf il s r ion paf �Jfifx&h Irk Off-Year PrimaryVoting in Seattle -- -- ---------- More residents m-e voting, but 100% Participation levels are still 90 fairly low, nw th only one-fifth 60 of eligible adults voting in the last primary election 50 Description 30 In it denlocratiC society, the 10 ICVCI of voter turnout reflects the C01111111 til"IC11t that PCOP le 1983 1985 198' 1989 1ggi 1993 1995 1987 11i'M to the political system iitld U% of Adults Registered 0 %of Registered Voters Voting N Of Adults Voting the extent to which all segments of society participate in key Interpretation valuation decision-making. It is also a measure of citizen confidence in More residents arc voting, but social and political institutions. Primary voter turnout in ��i g, • p years has oscillated f ra tai a li l �li participation levels are still �:�c��i`is��S��g voter turnout can �, ��,� f 3 0�� in 1977, to a low of 11 ��, fairly low-with wily one-fifth of' signal that people feel �� eligible' adults voting in the last In 1989 and 1991 , followed a g d i s e mp o��erc d and believe t li t�i r record high o f.4��,��% In 1995. p rima ry election. This means a votes Wont make a difference. significant proportion of the or that the government system is Voter interest in two gni p p g y controversial referenda for population is being 1 e fl out of organized to discourage civic the democratic process, which public financing of a downtown participation. park and a baseball stadium raises concern about our ability contributed to the high turnout to govern ourselves and make Definition in 1995. Still, voter turnout has the kinds o 1'd i f f i c u l t decisions bcetl slowly improving in recent needed to create a sustainable Prim airy c l ec t i o n s arc used for primaries. After turnouts near society. increasing active this indicator because they -)0% in the 1970s, the live citizenship should be a high shape the choices for the final primary elections between 198 I priority. election. Primaries also provide and 1989 averaged only 13% of an opportunity for protest and eligible residents. With the four Linkage dissenting movements to enter odd-year elections between the political arena. Data from 1991 and 1997. turnout ' �' ter involvenient is linked to odd-yea elections are used increased to an average of 22% poverty levels and the health of since even-year elections � � t p � c x 1i i b of eligible adults. In the 1997 the social environment. Closely y erratic voting patterns primary election, 20% of allied indicators include: youth (reflecting the presence or eligible adults N.,oted. and citizen community ervice absence of a significant � ' adult literacy, quality of life, statewide race}, and because the The percentage of eligible adults income distribution work key o active democracy is p g g ' y y registered to vote has also required for basic needs, involvement in local UT ro��' ii-78% in 1997 as ecological health and go �r�� e t electrons, which compared to 69% in 198--l. The population. Crime' social Wa s lull I t o n State take place in addition of more than 130,000 alienation, and other social little://www.sen.org/sustainable/Iiidicators/iiidicators98/voter98/voter.litml 4/1102