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The Gerontologist 41:805-818 (2001)
© 2001 The Gerontological Society of America

Changes and Continuities in the Determinants of Older Adults' Voter Turnout 1952–1996

M. Jean Turner, PhDa, Todd G. Shields, PhDb and Darinda Sharp, MSb

a School of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
b Department of Political Science, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Correspondence: M. Jean Turner, PhD, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, 118 HOEC, Fayetteville, AR 72701. E-mail: jturner{at}mail.uark.edu.

Decision Editor: Laurence G. Branch, PhD

Purpose: The goal of this project was to examine the factors related to the high level of voter turnout among older adults and how these factors have changed across the past 50 years. The study builds on previous research efforts by combining individual level analyses from three nationally representative surveys. Design and Methods: We examined voter turnout among older citizens using the American National Election Studies (ANES) 1952–1996, the Current Population Studies (CPS) 1972–1996, and the General Social Surveys (GSS) 1972–1996. Logit regression identified significant factors that contribute to or detract from voting in presidential elections. Results: Included in the extensive results, we found that being married, attending church, and contact by political operatives (since the 1980 election) contributed positively to older voters' turnout, whereas living in the South was a negative predictor. Implications: Triangulating data sources, we are able to utilize the strengths of each study—providing an overview of the determinants of voter turnout and understanding of the changes related to older Americans' turnout in presidential elections.

Key Words: Voting behaviors • Presidential elections • Political participation






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