Voter Turnout in Different Types of Elections
| State | Republican Primary | General Election |
|------------|--------------------|-----------------|
| Florida | 12.8 % | 63.5 % |
| Michigan | 16.5 % | 64.7 % |
| New York | 1.4 % | 53.1 % |
| California | 22.9 % | 55.2 % |
| Texas | 12.8 % | 49.7 % |
Source: United States Elections Project, George Mason University
Which conclusion does the data in the chart support?
A. Voters are more likely to participate in a presidential election than a primary.
B. Voters are more likely to participate in a primary than in a presidential election.
C. California has more Republicans than New York.
D. Texas and Florida have a similar number of Republican voters.
Answer (2)
The data shows that voter turnout in general elections is higher than in Republican primaries across all states listed. This supports the conclusion that voters are more likely to participate in a presidential election than in a primary. Therefore, the correct conclusion is: A. Voters are more likely to participate in a presidential election than in a primary.
;
General election turnout is higher than Republican primary turnout in all listed states.
This supports the conclusion that voters are more likely to participate in a presidential (general) election than a primary.
The data does not allow conclusions about the number of Republican voters in different states.
Therefore, the supported conclusion is: Voters are more likely to participate in a presidential election than a primary. T r u e
Explanation
Analyze the problem We are given a table that shows the voter turnout percentages for Republican primaries and general elections in five states. We need to determine which of the given conclusions is supported by the data in the table.
Compare voter turnout Let's compare the voter turnout percentages in Republican primaries and general elections for each state:
Florida: Primary 12.8% , General 63.5%
Michigan: Primary 16.5% , General 64.7%
New York: Primary 1.4% , General 53.1%
California: Primary 22.9% , General 55.2%
Texas: Primary 12.8% , General 49.7%
In each state, the voter turnout in the general election is significantly higher than in the Republican primary.
Draw conclusion Based on the comparison, we can conclude that voters are more likely to participate in a general election than in a Republican primary. The statement 'Voters are more likely to participate in a presidential election than a primary' is a more general statement that aligns with the data, as general elections often include presidential elections.
Eliminate other options The data does not provide information about the number of Republicans in California and New York, so we cannot conclude that California has more Republicans than New York. Similarly, the data only provides turnout percentages, not the actual number of Republican voters in Texas and Florida, so we cannot conclude that they have a similar number of Republican voters.
Final Answer Therefore, the data in the chart supports the conclusion that voters are more likely to participate in a presidential election than a primary.
Examples
Understanding voter turnout is crucial in political science. For example, analyzing turnout rates in different types of elections (primary vs. general) can help campaigns allocate resources effectively. If a campaign knows that general elections have significantly higher turnout, they might focus their get-out-the-vote efforts on those elections. Similarly, understanding turnout differences across states can inform broader strategic decisions about where to invest time and money.
