Voting, Party Affiliation, and Political Outlook

Abstract

Probably because the GSS is a household survey the percentage of persons who say they have voted in presidential elections is slightly higher than percentages in census reports. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1987, p. 229) However, since the survey began in 1972 both the GSS and the U.S. Census show that there has been a decline followed by an increase in the proportion of persons who vote. Ratios of persons who say they voted For the respective candidates are similar to those reported by federal government agencies, with the exception of 1980. In that year the GSS respondents give Carter a slight margin over Reagan even though Reagan won the election - the reason may be related to the Anderson candidacy and the large proportion of women in the sample who said they voted For Carter. (For a technical paper on this problem write Professor Tom Smith at the National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, 1155 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637).