The Biggest Issue in 2016: Voter Turnout

From foreign policy to immigration the 2016 presidential elections are guaranteed to have more issues than Lindsay Lohan, but the biggest issue weighing heavily on both sides will be, voter turnout.

Voter turnout will closely resemble 2012, with the electorate sharply divided along partisan lines and the winner decided by a small number of regular swing states. In other words, 2016 will come down to which side can turn out the vote.

As we saw in 2014, after the last stump speech was given and the last rally attended, the difference between Republicans taking back the Senate came down to one thing, votes. Only 36% of people voted in the 2014 midterms, while the other 64%, they stayed home. As a rule, voter turnout during presidential elections is higher, but if history is any indicator, the Republicans will have an edge. Aside from their ability to turn out their base, neither party has been able to maintain control of the White House for three terms since George H.W. Bush succeeded Ronald Reagan.

But don’t count the Democrats out just yet… looking back, Democrats have won four of the last six presidential elections as well as the popular vote five of the last six times.

Both sides have their work cut out for them when it comes to convincing Americans to show up and vote. So who will it be? Will the GOP prevail in the battle for the White House or will Democrats maintain control of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

We’re 18 months away, and the only thing these candidates should be focused on besides winning the primary is energizing their base to head to the polls on Election Day!