Final answer:
Countries like Germany, Spain, and France have experienced voter turnout above 80 percent in national elections since the 1980s. This is much higher than in the United States, where approximately 55% to 65% of eligible voters participate in presidential elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The turnout of the voting age population that is above 80 percent can be observed in several countries. According to data from national elections since the 1980s, countries such as Germany, Spain, and France have witnessed about 75% to 80% of those of voting age casting ballots. These turnouts are significantly higher than in the United States, where about 55% to 65% of voting-age citizens voted in recent presidential elections.
Some nations even have mandatory voting laws to ensure high voter turnout, examples include Australia, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Singapore, and most Latin American countries. While mandatory voting was a part of the early history of some U.S. states, such as Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Georgia, it is no longer in effect, and the freedom not to vote is also recognized.