The past several decades have witnessed a general decline in voter turnout throughout the world, and, while there is little agreement as to what specifically constitutes a good level of turnout, recent declines in many countries have raised concern among governments, non-governmental organisations, and citizens. The intention of this publication is to examine some of the efforts made throughout the world to stem and/or reverse the decline in voter turnout, and to attempt to maximise turnout at electoral events of all types, including elections, referendums and citizens initiatives. All electoral events involve many factors operating at different levels, which have varying effects on voter turnout. Some cannot be easily manipulated, requiring vast social transformation or even alterations to a countrys election laws. Other elements, however, are more malleable, and it is at this practical level that this inventory intends to present a selection of ideas used throughout the world that may work to encourage voter turnout in suitable contexts.
There is an enormous range of activity world-wide on which to draw for case studies and examples that illustrate effective practice and/or imaginative initiatives. Some of these are presented here under a categorisation framework defined by: Information campaigns; Advertising campaigns; Grass-roots movements; School/mock elections and other special-purpose programmes; Entertainment; Inducements.