1. Politics in States and Communities (15 Ed.)
Thomas Dye and Susan MacManus
Edited by Bob Botsch for POLI 458

2. Participation in State Politics
Chapter 4
Participation in State Politics

3. Learning Objectives
Enumerate the different types of political participation, and understand the frequency with which Americans participate in politics.
Evaluate whether it is rational to vote, and identify the various factors that influence voter turnout.
Explain how differences in election laws between the states may influence both voter turnout and which candidates will be victorious.
Compare patterns in voter turnout among whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.
Explain the methods the federal government has employed to gradually expand the right to vote, tracing this expansion from creation of the Constitution through the adoption of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
Describe how states have drawn political districts to increase the number of racial and ethnic minorities elected to public office and what the Supreme Court has said about these efforts.
Compare the participation of men and women in state politics, and assess the significance of the recent influx of women in state and local political office.
Describe how political views and clout differ at different levels of government.
Describe the various interest groups that attempt to influence state politics and the role that lobbyists play in the process.
Describe the tactics used by lobbyists to promote group interests, and compare these tactics to those employed at the national level.
Explain why interest groups are more powerful in some states than in others.
Describe the differences between protests, political disobedience, and violence; and outline how state and local governments respond to these types of political participation.
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4. Political Participation
Necessary for a democratic republic.
Includes voting, running for office, participating in marches or demonstrations, giving money or time to efforts, attending rallies or events, writing letters or s, wearing a button, discussing issues with friends, or belonging to an organization that does public service.
Not always sustained over time
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5. Political Participation
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6. Voting and Voter Turnout
Voting a common method of political involvement, a right in a democracy, yet many people do not vote
Voter turnout measured several ways:
% of the voting age population that votes
% of the voting eligible population that votes
% of registered voters that votes
Turnout is the lowest in local elections.
Voting is not “rational” on cost-benefit basis
but most people vote for psychological/solidarity reasons
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7. The Trend in Voter Turnout—note the difference between the two lines!
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8. Who Fails to Vote?
The young, the poor, the unemployed, and the least educated are the least likely to vote.
Nonvoters are predominantly:
First-generation immigrants, especially non-English speaking
Those who seldom participate in organized religious activities
Newcomers to a community
People with little or no interest in politics, little trust in government, no belief that voting is a civic duty, and no belief they can make a difference by voting
Persons with physical disabilities
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9. Who Fails to Vote? and… Blue-collar and service-sector workers
Asians and Latinos
Independents
Single parents living in poor neighborhoods
Persons who have not been contacted by a candidate or party
Renters (vs. homeowners)
Residents of solidly one-party dominated states (nonswing states)
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10. Voter Turnout Rate: 2012 Presidential Election

11. Reasons for Variations in Voter Turnout
Socioeconomic explanations: High education/income means more likely to vote
Partisan competition-related explanations: High turnout in swing states
Media predicting winners early explanation: Discourages later voters
Legal and procedural explanations
Differences in registration procedures
Federally mandated “motor voter” registration law
Differences in time, place, equipment, ballots, and poll workers
Intimidation by or anger at voter id laws
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12. Who Votes?
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13. Continuing Election Controversies
Effects of certain election reforms are still being debated
Election reform efforts have also become considerably more partisan and are particularly intense in states with high levels of party competition
The prevalent controversial issues include:
Voter eligibility and verification (IDs)
Voting locations and ease of voting
Online (Internet) registration, ballot requests, and voting
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14. Voter ID Requirements

15. Race, Ethnicity, and Political Participation
Racial and ethnic minorities growing in # and % and in political power
African Americans: Surpassed white voter turnout for first time in history in 2012 presidential election
Hispanics: Like blacks are likely to practice “co-ethnic voting”
Asians: Relatively low turnouts may be related to tendency to register as independents
Jews and Cubans: important in areas where more concentrated
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16. Minority Voting Trends
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17. Securing the Right to Vote
Elimination of property qualifications: by early 1800s
Fifteenth Amendment: In 1870, banned race discrimination
Nineteenth Amendment: In 1920, banned gender discrimination
The “White Primary”: Deemed unconstitutional in 1944
Discrimination: An ongoing problem even into twentieth century
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Banned unequal standards
Twenty-Fourth Amendment: In 1964, banned poll taxes
Voting Rights Act of 1965: Largely eliminated discrimination in voting
Eighteen-year-old voting: Achieved in 1971 with Twenty-Sixth Amendment
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18. Affirmative Racial Gerrymandering

19. Women In State Politics
Traditionally have not participated at rate of men but rapidly changing
Women in state offices: Now make up almost one-fourth of state legislators
Image challenges: May be tagged as soft on drugs and crime
The political gender gap: Women more likely to vote Democratic
Women and policymaking: May give higher priority to women’s and children’s issues when reach a critical mass in legislatures (>25%)
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20. Elected Women—see the Center for American Women and Politics
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21. Young and Old in State Politics
Generational conflict intensifying across nation
Seniors have lowest poverty level
Children have highest poverty level
Generational clout differs in presidential and nonpresidential elections:
Young voters more important in national, esp presidential elections
Seniors still much more influential in state and local elections
Generational policy agendas: Young and old often agree on what the big problems are, though not necessarily on priorities, causes, or cures—e.g. Social Security and Medicare and Education
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22. Generation Gap and the Partisan Divide
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23. Interest Groups in State Politics
Different than parties: Interest groups seek to influence specific policies rather than achieve total control over the government
Organized interests: May relate to occupation/economy, race or religion, ideology, labor union, government official, or recipient of government service
Professional lobbyists: Many are former legislators hired because they “know their way around”
Lobby registration: Often only professional lobbyists officially register
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24. Registered Lobbyists

25. Functions and Tactics of Interest Groups
Techniques vary widely, depending on groups and their leaders
Typical tactics: Testifying, contacting lawmakers, drafting legislation
Bill monitoring: Much time spent keeping tabs on bills affecting client
Lobbying: Involves persuasion but also providing technical info
Bribery and corruption: More common at state than national level
Grassroots lobbying: media campaigns, and public relations—focus is not exclusively on lawmakers—on public opinion
PAC money in the states: Reliance on PACs is increasing for state office
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26. Comparing Interest Group Power in the States
States have been categorized as having either a dominant, complementary, or subordinate interest group system
Pluralism—the economic diversity explanation: Influence of interest groups greater when one industry dominates political life
The party explanation: Strong parties make for weak interest groups
The professionalism explanation: Interest groups more influential when legislatures are less professional
The governmental fragmentation explanation: States with weak governors often face strong interest group systems
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27. Protest as Political Participation
Growing at state/local level, e.g. protests against union busting actions by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Protest: Direct, collective activity to obtain concessions
Civil disobedience: Break “unjust” laws, and accept the punishment
Violence: Criminal, generally irrational, and self-defeating
News media response often the key to success
Effectiveness: Highest when goal is clear and have strong organ.
Official responses: May be genuine, symbolic, or token
State and local governments bear costs of protests: Busted budgets
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28. On the Web
A web-based newspaper
The League of Women Voters
Project Vote Smart
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