Priming Democracy (II)

Grist for the mill, from the WashPost (via Spector)

And telling people what everyone in the neighborhood had done the previous Election Day -- and letting them know that they would be similarly informed about the current election -- boosted turnout by 27 percent.

The whole piece is very good, and is more support for the view that voting behaviour is largely a function of social pressure. The biggest factor negatively affecting voter turnout was -- surprise surprise -- the private ballot. Maybe everyone who keeps whining about how FPP is ruining democracy should change tacks and start rallying for a return to the public ballot.

I kid, of course. The secret ballot is already on its way out.