The PRPD Local Core Values project indicated that listeners enjoyed hearing news reports from other areas that provide context to local issues and concerns. With that in mind, this evergreen piece would make a great follow-up to almost any story at any time of year (or as part of a program) regarding your local/regional/state voter turnout or registration efforts. It would also make a great lead-in to a panel discussion or talk program on these issues.

The report answers a very simple question: North Dakota has an unusually large voter turnout...why?

The report is light on frill, well paced, and quick (and by the way, it is 4 minutes long, not 5 as the description indicates). However, the piece would be even stronger with more dynamics. The reporter focuses on a small number of interviews with politicians and election officials--if you are producing a piece on voter participation, wouldn't it make sense to include some actual voters in the piece? Also, the report gives the impression that the heavy participation is due to one fact: that there's no voter registration in North Dakota. That feels too simple. Are there other contributing factors (both measurable and intangible), does anyone (including voters) offer an alternative assessment or rationale, or does anyone disagree and think that the lack of registration has no impact?

Still, it's an interesting and thought-provoking piece. Worth a listen.