In the 2012 US presidential election, 58.2% of registered voters went to the polls to vote (IDEA). This figure is in stark contrast to that of many other wealthy democracies in the Western world for the same election cycle (IDEA). This begs the question: Why is voter turnout significantly lower in the United States than in the rest of the first world and other OECD countries? There are countless factors that could influence voter turnout, most of which are based on socioeconomic status. But if you only consider developed countries, the factor at play in predicting voter turnout is greater. The focus is on institutional factors and the effect that electoral mechanisms, such as registration laws and party systems, have on political participation. Europe and the United States differ on many key aspects of democratic structure, including party systems, registration processes, and voting procedures. These unique institutional factors in the United States place an undue burden on the public and increase the tangible cost of voting, which discourages political participation. In order to discuss these costs, it is necessary to understand how broader institutional and structural factors influence individuals' participation. In a general context, political participation is defined as any form of individual engagement in politics, but within the scope of this essay, political participation is narrowed to include only the act of voting (Verba). This can be used to explain why voter turnout in the United States is so low compared to European democracies. By investigating democratic institutions in Italy, Germany and France, it is possible to make such a comparison and investigate the institutional effect on the voter turnout rate. Final......middle of paper......rties in America." Third World Traveler. Princeton University Press, 1984. Web. May 1, 2014. .Timpone, Richard J. "Structure, Behavior, and Voter Voter Turnout in the United States." The American Political Science Review 92.1 (1998): 145-58. JSTOR. Web. April 13, 2014. .Powell, Bingham G., Jr. "American Voter Turnout in Comparative Perspective." The American Political Science Review 80.1 (1986): 17-43. Web. 13 April 2014. Verba, Sidney, Kay Lehman Schlozman and Henry E. Brady 1995. Voice and Equality Cambridge: Harvard University Press) pp. 8-10; 24; 37-48. World Economic Outlook Database, April 2014, International Monetary Fund, updated 8 April 2014. Accessed April 2014.