Let's examine the data given to draw a conclusion regarding election-day registration in states where it was an option. Here's the detailed analysis:
### States with Election-Day Registration:
- 2008: Voter turnout was 72%.
- 2012: Voter turnout was 65%.
To determine the change in voter turnout over these years, we calculate:
[tex]\[ \text{Change in voter turnout with EDR} = 65\% - 72\% = -7\% \][/tex]
### States without Election-Day Registration:
- 2008: Voter turnout was 62%.
- 2012: Voter turnout was 58%.
To determine the change in voter turnout over these years, we calculate:
[tex]\[ \text{Change in voter turnout without EDR} = 58\% - 62\% = -4\% \][/tex]
### Interpretation:
- Change in voter turnout with EDR: -7%. This indicates that voter turnout in states with Election-Day Registration decreased by 7 percentage points from 2008 to 2012.
- Change in voter turnout without EDR: -4%. This indicates that voter turnout in states without Election-Day Registration decreased by 4 percentage points from 2008 to 2012.
Although both categories saw a decrease in voter turnout between 2008 and 2012, states with Election-Day Registration still had a higher overall voter turnout compared to states without it. In both years (2008 and 2012), the voter turnout in states with EDR was higher than in states without it.
### Conclusion:
Based on the data analysis, the correct conclusion is:
It helped to increase voter turnout.
This conclusion suggests that Election-Day Registration, as an option, had a positive impact on voter turnout compared to states without the option, even though the turnout decreased overall between the two years.
