This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Vanishing Voters

Did your parents vote last week? If they did, good for them. Our system of government depends on voter participation. But a surprising number of Americans didn't bother with the elections. Fewer than half those who could vote actually did so! It was the lowest turnout since 1924. Are Americans just bored with politics? Were they unhappy with the choice of candidates? There's really no excuse. Compare the low voter turnout in the U.S. with the percentage of those who recently voted in other countries.

France: 71%
Russia: 69%
Canada: 61%
Japan: 60%
U.S.: 49%
Iceland: 88%
Sweden: 83%
Israel: 76%
Great Britain: 74%
Norway: 74%

Source: International Foundation for Election Systems and the Committee for Study of the American Electorate

Next: State Scorecard