Voting strictly by absentee ballots, citizens of Washington state soon will decide, among other, lower-profile issues, whether the state will adopt Initiative 522 to label foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMO). The theory behind the state’s unique, all-absentee-ballot system is that more people will participate if it’s more convenient.
However, it hasn’t entirely worked out that way, says Travis Ridout, WSU professor of political science.
“Most studies show that vote by mail increases turnout a little bit just because of the convenience factors but maybe not as much as supporters of it would hope,” Ridout said. In an off-cycle election with little on the statewide ballot, like the one this year, about 30 percent of the state’s residents are likely to vote, he predicted. Thus, the decision of whether to become the first state in the country to require GMO labeling on food, which could encourage other states to do the same, might come down to roughly 1.2 million votes.