Several "barriers" drag down turnout. Registration is a hurdle, though "motor voter" laws have lowered it for many. Voter fatigue is another, with national elections in every even year and local elections in every odd year, and both a primary and general election required each time. Seemingly random school bond elections are thrown in for good measure.

With so few poised to decide for so many who will be the finalists for the next mayor of Salt Lake City, will the election really reflect the interests of residents?

No, BYU's Patterson said. "It's reflective of the interests of these voters who care enough and are passionate enough and informed enough to want to go. So, in some ways, the opinions these voters are conveying are not representative of the larger community."

The political scientists said voting can't, and shouldn't, be reduced to a straight cost-benefit analysis.

"Voting is a civic act," Patterson said, "one invested with a great deal of importance and a sense of duty, so even though many individuals know their vote may or may not sway the actual outcome, it's an act they think helps them shape what government does and is part of the duty expected of them as a citizen."

Some countries have boosted turnout by allowing voters to register on Election Day. Others make voting mandatory, like Australia, where not voting in national elections is punishable by a fine. Others give workers time off to vote or hold elections on weekends.

A boost to America's sense of civic duty is also needed, Davis said.

"We need to have more civics education in school, not just American history, but civics, where we teach students they are needed in the process."

That won't happen overnight.

"Our elections have a long way to go, especially some of these local elections and primaries, before they really reach down and activate a pool of voters who normally would not vote," Patterson said.

Jones, who has spent decades polling Utahns, doesn't see the sky falling, not in an information age that has brought the Internet, talk radio and blogs to the political scene.

"I think there's more discussion about government at every level today than at any time I can remember," he said.

---

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com