Definition

The number of people who show up to an event, election, or venue—the metric everyone obsesses over to measure success or engagement. High turnout = good; low turnout = panic.

Example Usage

The mayoral election saw an unprecedented turnout of 78%, surpassing all previous records.

Source: Merriam-Webster via Free Dictionary API

Related Terms

Intermediate

machine politics

A political organization that controls votes through patronage, favors, and hierarchical loyalty rather than ideological commitment. Democracy's mob family, complete with enforcers and neighborhood captains.

🏛️ Government / Politics
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safe harbor

A deadline after which election results become extremely difficult to challenge, providing legal protection for certified outcomes. Democracy's statute of limitations, compressed into weeks.

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floor amendment

A proposed change to legislation introduced during debate on the floor rather than in committee, often deployed as a surprise attack or last-ditch effort. It's democracy's version of editing a document while everyone's watching.

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off the record

Information given to journalists with the agreement it won't be published or attributed, theoretically. In practice, it's a trust exercise where everyone knows the rules until someone really wants to break them.

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Incumbent Attrition

The phenomenon where incumbents gradually lose power due to retirement, scandal, or death—the only thing that consistently reduces their overwhelming advantages.

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question period

A regular session in parliamentary systems where the executive answers questions from legislators, theoretically ensuring accountability but often devolving into choreographed theater where both sides perform for cameras.

🏛️ Government / Politics

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