Voter Turnout 2026
In short
Voter turnout represents the percentage of eligible citizens who cast a ballot in an election. It serves as a key measure of political participation and engagement within a democracy.
In plain words
It shows how many people actually went to vote compared to how many were allowed to. High turnout means many people took part, while low turnout means most stayed home.
A simple example
If a town has one hundred people allowed to vote and sixty of them cast a ballot, the turnout is sixty per cent.
Why it matters
High turnout gives a government more legitimacy and shows the public supports the system. Low turnout can suggest that people feel disconnected from their leaders or the political process.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse voter turnout with voter registration, which is just the number of people signed up to vote.