Why the Long Face?

Bummed about the ultra-low turnout we see during off-year elections?

You're not alone. The Politicker quotes a Brooklyn Heights voter: "Besides the depressing reality that the Kings County Democrats and Republicans had an identical slate of candidates for Supreme Court Judge, I was further buoyed in my faith in Brooklyn Democracy by being the 8th voter in my ED to vote at 8:30 this morning (an average of three voters per hour)."

This voter hits on an important point: turnout is boosted when elections are competitive and voters feel that their vote counts. With the gentleman's agreement between the two major parties in many jurisdictions to cross-endorse judicial candidates, it's no wonder turnout is low in an election in which judicial "contests" get top billing.