Turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election. It is an important measure of civic engagement and can indicate how motivated people are to express their opinions through voting. Higher turnout often reflects strong interest in the issues at stake or the candidates involved. Factors influencing turnout can include the competitiveness of the election, the ease of voting, and public awareness campaigns. Events like presidential elections typically see higher turnout compared to local elections. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, education, and income can also affect voter participation rates.