VOTING
There has been little change in the percentage of Missourians who voted in presidential elections since 1972. However, it should be noted that the percentage of Missourians who voted dropped in 2008 after increasing for two straight elections between 1996 and 2004. While a decline over one presidential election cycle does not necessarily indicate a trend, the decrease is a cause for concern.

Over time, a higher percentage of Missourians have voted in presidential elections than in the nation as a whole. However, the gap between Missouri and the U.S. has narrowed considerably since 2004.

Contrary to the trend data for voting in presidential elections, the midterm election rate has increased for the last two elections (2002 and 2006). Relatively speaking, there has been nearly a 20% increase in the percentage of Missourians who voted in midterm elections from 1974 to 2006, which is larger than the 6% increase in the percentage of all Americans who voted in midterm elections over that same period. Notably, voter turnout for midterm elections in Missouri has been higher than the national average since 1994.

VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering hit a six–year low in 2008 and did not show sings of increase in 2009.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
There has been a slight increase in the percentage of Americans who have attended a public meeting between 2006 and 2009.The percentage of Missourians who have attended a public meeting has declined by nearly three percentage points over that same period. Strikingly, although the percentage of Missourians who have attended a public meeting was higher than the national average in 2006, by 2009 it was lower than the national average.