The disappearing voters? Exploring declining turnout in Western European elections

Changing social characteristics of Western European electorates lead to the expectation of increasing turnout in elections. Yet, in the 1980s, turnout has held steady or declined in most countries for national and European elections. A series of factors believed to affect turnout are identified from recent studies of political participation. Their utility for explaining the recent European turnout patterns is assessed through reference to judgements offered by analysts of recent elections, and a selective analysis of Eurobarometer data. None of the propositions purporting to explain the paradox is sufficient.