The number of people attending or participating in an event, especially voter participation in an election. Also refers to equipment or clothing, or a widened area where vehicles can pass.
From the phrasal verb 'turn out' meaning to come out or appear, first recorded in the 17th century. The political sense of voter participation developed in the 19th century as democratic participation became more widespread.
Voter turnout often reflects the health of a democracy, with higher participation generally indicating greater civic engagement. Paradoxically, some of the highest turnouts in history occurred during crises or highly contentious elections, suggesting that conflict can motivate political participation.
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