Vanishing Voter : Public Involvement in an Age of Uncertainty

From the award-winning author ofOut of Ordernamed the best political science book of the last decade by the American Political Science Associationcomes this landmark book about why Americans don't vote. Based on more than 80,000 interviews,The Vanishing Voterinvestigates whydespite a better educated citizenry, the end of racial barriers to voting, and simplified voter registration proceduresthe percentage of voters has steadily decreased to the point that the United States now has nearly the lowest voting rate in the world. Patterson cites the blurring of differences between the political parties, the news media's negative bias, and flaws in the election system to explain this disturbing trend while suggesting specific reforms intended to bring Americans back to the polls. Astute, far-reaching, and impeccably researched,The Vanishing Voterengages the very meaning of our relationship to our government.

Thomas E. Patterson is the Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.