1. Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will
Chapter 7

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Voter Participation
Factors in voter turnout: the United States in comparative perspective
Significantly lower turnout than European democracies
Registration requirements
Historically a means to limit suffrage
Motor voter law
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3. Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections, 1960–2008
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Voter Participation
Factors in voter turnout: the United States in comparative perspective
Registration requirements
Voter ID cards serve to depress voter turnout
Georgia photo ID/voter identification card law
Federal judge struck down monetary requirement
Supreme Court upheld Indiana voter ID card requirement
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Voter Participation
Factors in voter turnout: the United States in comparative perspective
Frequency of elections
Elections at many levels of government, frequent and staggered
Primary elections
Americans asked to vote two or three times as often as Europeans
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6. Should Voters be Required to Carry a Government-Issued Photo ID?
Pro:
Voting fraud is widespread and detrimental
All citizens will be assisted in getting IDs
Con:
Poor, elderly, and minorities will be disenfranchised
Little documentation of voter fraud
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Voter Participation
Why some Americans vote and others do not
Education and income
Age
Civic attitudes
Apathy
Alienation
Civic duty
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8. Voter Turnout and Level of Income, 2008
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9. American’s Opinions on Voting as a Duty, by Age
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10. Conventional Forms of Participation Other Than Voting
Campaign and lobbying activities
Virtual participation
Political campaigns and citizen mobilization
Democratizing effects but also political polarization
Community activities
Decline in social capital?
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11. Online Campaign Activities
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Campaign Activity
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13. Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics
Social movements: way for citizens disenchanted with government to express opposition and work for change they seek
Political protests more planned today than in the past
Political protests less common today, and low public support for protesters
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14. Participation and Potential for Influence
Individualism diminishes political participation
Lower-income Americans least likely to vote or participate politically; lack resources and education levels
Participation reflects socioeconomic level
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Protest Activity
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16. Americans’ Opinions of Iraq War Protest
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