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Community: Voting Indicator Voter registration in DuPage County is generally below the state average, while voter turnout is slightly higher.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR This chart evaluates voter registrations and turnout for the presidential elections in 1996 and 2000 and the non-presidential election in 1998. Voter registration is presented as the percentage of the voting age population (VAP), defined as residents aged 18 and over, who are registered to vote. Voter turnout is the percentage of registered voters who cast ballots for the highest office in each election. Voting is important because it is the foundation of a democratic society. Voter turnout measures how involved residents are in the political process. OBSERVATIONS Both voter registration and voter turnout in DuPage County increased between the 1996 and 2000 elections. For the 1998 election, however, turnout was substantially lower, as it generally is for non-presidential elections. Voter turnout in DuPage County has consistently been higher than state turnout, but it is lower than national levels. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 60 percent of all registered U. S. voters cast ballots in the 2000 election, compared with only 55.1 percent of registered voters in DuPage County. Since the 1996 election, DuPage has made significant progress in registering people to vote. In fact, in 2000, the percentage of registered voters in the county exceeded the state percentage, whereas in previous elections, voter registration in the county was below state levels. TAPESTRYEncouraging citizens to vote not only affects the political direction of the country, it also impacts state, local, and county leadership; educational programs; and community economics. It is especially important to increase voter registration and turnout among older teens and young adults, as they represent the future of our communities and our country. High schools might consider registering graduating seniors. Recruiting more young adults as precinct chairs could also help boost registrations and encourage active political involvement among the young. HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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