Just thinking about the endless stream of campaign ads sure to accompany the three statewide elections next year is enough to make anyone tired. But in all seriousness, analysts are worried about how voter fatigue might affect turnout. Marianne Russ reports.
Here’s a quick refresher: There’s the presidential primary in February, the legislative and congressional primary in June, and the general election in November.
Nalder: I’m very worried about voter fatigue for 2008.
Kim Nalder is an Assistant Professor of Government at Sacramento State University. She expects turnout to be high in February and November because of the Presidential race – but says it may fall off in June. But she points out ballot measures with statewide implications may also be on that ballot – and that’s a concern:
Nalder: So if we have people sort of throwing their hands up at having to vote too much, or maybe missing that second primary, the decision-making will be done by the few people who are hard-core and who do show up.
Military and overseas ballots have already gone out for the February Presidential primary. Vote-by-mail ballots will go out early next month.
