Issues in International Political Economy - On Elections - November 2010 - Number 131

Polls of Americans who intended to vote in the election earlier this month indicated that some 36 percent were Democrats and about 33 percent Republicans. These percentages indicate that most U.S. elections are decided by independents. They are also decided by the failure of eligible voters to cast a ballot, especially in non-presidential years—a figure that reached about 50 percent this year. Because the electorate has more Democrats than Republicans, a large turnout usually benefits the Democrats.