A Roller Coaster Vanishes! Aerial view of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to an amusement park along the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by a New Jersey Army National Guard helicopter crew on October 30, 2012.Do you plan to vote on November 6th?

Is there anything that might deter you from going to the polls?

The turnout for the 2012 election is predicted to be lower than it was in 2008 or in 2004, according to Gallup’s Turnout Indicators. And this prediction is based on data collected before Hurricane Sandy—and the aftermath of the superstorm might depress voter turnout even further.

How would you answer this question, one of several in Gallup’s Turnover Indicator:

“I’d like to ask your chances of voting in November’s election for president on a scale of 1 to 10. If 1 represents someone who definitely will not vote and 10 represents someone who definitely will vote, where on this scale of 1 to 10 would you place yourself?”

Eighty-three percent of registered voters report 10 in the latest Gallup poll, saying that they definitely will vote next Tuesday. At this time in 2008, the figure was 86%. In 2004, it was 89%.

We see a similar pattern for giving thought to the election. In 2012, 85% say they are giving quite a lot or some thought to the election. The figure was 87% in 2008, and 90% in 2004.

Of course, intentions to vote and actually showing up at the polls are not the same thing. We don’t know what the turnout will be next Tuesday, but Gallup’s model predicts that it will be lower than the last two elections. In 2008, 58% of registered voters actually voted. In 2004, it was 57%.

Voting in free elections is an aspiration and dream for many around the world, but Americans have the lowest rate of voter turnout of any large and rich democracy. This is a problem that we’ve discussed at length before.

Will you definitely vote on November 6th?

Will superstorm Sandy lower the chances of going to the polls?

Please, leave a Comment below.

Originally published at www.OurValues.org, an experiment in civil dialogue about American values.