Political Science Professor Michael McDonald, who studies voter turnout in the U.S., estimates 39% of the potential electorate will vote in the November 7, 2006 election. That is only about a 10% improvement, compared to November 2002, when about 36% voted. Note that “potential electorate” means all adults who could register and vote if they wished; it does not refer to the percentage of registered voters who will vote.

He notes in the Washington Post of October 31 that Iowa keeps track of the partisan affiliation of people who request absentee ballots. So far, 51.1% of the absentee voter requests in Iowa have come from registered Democrats, whereas 31.7% of them have come from registered Republicans and only 17.2% have come from registered independents. Voter registration in Iowa is almost a 3-way tie between Republicans, Democrats and independents. Therefore, this data tends to show that registered Democrats are more eager to vote this year than registered Republicans and registered independents.

A Zogby poll for the US House race, 22nd district, shows that Libertarian hopes of actually electing a member of the US House seem wildly optimistic. This is the district represented by Tom DeLay until April of this year. The poll shows that Bob Smither, the Libertarian, is only at 5%, even though his only ballot-listed opponent is a Democrat. A Houston city councilwoman is the Republican write-in candidate.

Voters in 9 states are voting on ballot measures that would alter election laws. Instant-Runoff Voting is being considered in two cities in California (Oakland and Davis), Minneapolis, and Pierce County, Washington (which includes Tacoma).

Massachusetts is voting on whether to legalize fusion and make it easier for minor parties to remain ballot-qualified.

Rhode Island is voting on whether to let ex-felons who have been released from prison to register to vote, even if they are on parole or probation.

California is voting on whether to implement public funding for candidates for state office. The formula is discriminatory in favor of Republican and Democratic candidates, as opposed to all other candidates.

Arizona is voting on whether to use all-mail voting, as Oregon currently does.

Florida voters will decide whether to require all ballot measures to receive 60% in order to pass, but Colorado is deciding on whether to make it easier for initiatives to qualify (by somewhat relaxing the “same-subject rule”). Oregon is voting on legislative term limits. Thanks to Professor Michael McDonald for most of this information.