get out the vote

"Get out the vote" (GOTV) refers to efforts aimed at mobilizing individuals to participate in elections, either by encouraging them to vote or to vote in a specific way. These efforts are a key component of grassroots campaigns and often involve direct communication methods like mail, email, phone calls, or in-person visits, rather than mass media.1

Factors influencing voter turnout include the type of electoral system, social groupings, personal beliefs, and geographic location. National elections typically see higher participation than state or local ones. Partisan identification and competitive districts also tend to increase turnout, while frequent elections or complicated registration processes can depress it. Historically, lower socioeconomic status, recent enfranchisement, and younger age have been associated with lower participation rates.2