Final answer:
Voter turnout is crucial for a functioning democracy, but in the U.S. it has been historically low for various reasons, including voter disengagement and structural barriers within the electoral system. Turnout increased significantly in the 2020 election, indicating a rise in civic engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Voter turnout is an essential measure of civic engagement and the health of a democracy. In the United States, despite the fact that many Americans understand it is a civic responsibility to vote, turnout has often been low compared to other industrialized nations. There are multiple reasons for this, including disenchantment, indifference, or contentment with the status quo.
However, voter participation saw an uptick in the 2020 election, achieving the highest turnout since the 1980s.
Several external factors can influence voter turnout, including socioeconomic status, race, and issues with the voting process itself, such as inconvenient election dates or complex registration requirements. Studies have also identified the frequency of elections, off-year elections when no presidential race is occurring, and holding elections on weekdays as reasons for lower turnout.
In contrast, the historical trend has been an increase in minority turnout, notably among the Black community, which has reached parity or surpassed White turnout in recent elections.