Brookings Institution/CIRCLE Briefing March 30: Getting Out the Vote: How to Increase Turnout in 2004

3/26/2004

From: Brookings Office of Communications, 202-797-6105, or communications@brookings.edu or Web: http://ww.brookings.edu

News Advisory:

A Brookings/CIRCLE Briefing - Getting Out the Vote: How to Increase Turnout in 2004

WHEN:

Tuesday, March 30

2-4 p.m.(Reception to follow)

WHERE:

The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

SPEAKERS:

Opening Remarks:

-- William Galston, Saul Stern Professor, School of Public Affairs, and director, CIRCLE, University of Maryland

Presentation:

-- Alan Gerber, director, Center for the Study of American Politics, and Professor of Political Science, Yale University

-- Donald P. Green, director, Institution for Social and Policy Studies, and professor of Political Science, Yale University

Panelists:

-- James Gimpel, professor of Government, University of Maryland; co-author, Cultivating Democracy: Civic Environments and Political Socialization in America

-- Ed Goeas, president and CEO, The Tarrance Group; Pollster, U.S. News & World Report

-- Anna Greenberg, vice president, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research

-- Zephyr Teachout, former director for Internet Organizing and Outreach, Dean for America Campaign

-- E.J. Dionne Jr. (Moderator), senior fellow, Brookings Institution; syndicated columnist, Washington Post Writers Group

BACKGROUND:

Politicians, candidates, and students of the political system have long debated a question that goes to the heart of a healthy democracy: What are the best ways to increase voter turnout?

Election experts Donald Green and Alan Gerber, the authors of Get Out the Vote! How to Increase Voter Turnout, a new book from the Brookings Institution Press, challenge the conventional wisdom -- and the advice of professional campaign consultants. Green and Gerber's research, based on randomized experiments conducted in political campaigns over several years, shows that not all popular (and expensive) get-out-the-vote tactics are as effective as they are thought to be, and that old-fashioned, door-to-door campaigning can be surprisingly effective and affordable.

Participants in this discussion, sponsored by Brookings and the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), will debate the best and most cost-effective ways to increase voter participation and youth turnout in the 2004 presidential elections. Audience questions and comments are welcome.

RSVP: Members of the press should contact the Brookings Office of Communications by calling 202-797-6105, emailing to communications@brookings.edu, or visiting the Brookings Web site: http://www.brookings.edu/comm/events/20040330.htm