Many studies of the United States voting have sought to explain why voter participation is declining. Recent research by Michael P. McDonald suggests that the much lamented "decline in voter participation" is an artifact of the way in which turnout rates have been measured. McDonald is an assistant professor of government and politics in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University in Virginia, and is currently a fellow at the Brookings Institution. This article presents the formula used by McDonald to calculate voter participation. Some of the flaws in McDonald's calculation are also presented. (Contains 1 note.)