1. Elections are ultimately about the voter’s decisions. What factors do you think influence voters’ decisions? What are some considerations that voters use to make their choices? 2. Compared to Europe, the US has extremely low voter turnout. Why do you think this is? Why do you think the 2008 election saw an increase in voter turnout?
Chapter 7
Three key factors influence voter’s decisions: 1. Party loyalty 2. Issue and policy concerns 3. Candidate characteristics
Most voters feel a certain sense of identification with the Democratic or Republican Party Where does this sense of identification come from? Partisan identification predisposes voters in favor of their party’s candidates and against those of the opposing party
Many times, people vote along party lines regardless of the candidate Voters tend to keep their party affiliations unless some crisis causes them to reexamine the bases of their loyalties - Republicans hope this happens in the next election with Democrats At the beginning of the New Deal era millions of former Republicans transferred their allegiance to FDR and the Democrats
In the late 1960s, there was a trend of a decline of partisan attachment within the electorate, a growth of the number of voters identified as independents, and a rise in split-ticket voting This is known as dealignment Why do you think this started given the time period?
Political parties seem to have grown stronger High level of ideological polarization along party lines in Congress – this is very evident today In elections, parties have become more active again and taken a on an important role of recruiting candidates
Issues and policy preference is the second factor influencing voters’ choices at the polls If a candidate takes a stand on an issue, then the voter is more likely to be able to identify and act on whatever policy preferences they may have The 2008 presidential race proved to be one where issues played an important role – McCain and Obama differed on most issues; McCain trying to distance himself from Bush In 2010, the economy was the focal point for the mid- term elections which led more voters to support Republicans Very often candidates deliberately take the safe course and don’t take a stand because they don’t want to turn-off voters
Candidate’s personal attributes always influence voters’ decisions Race, ethnicity, religion, gender, geography, social background In general, voters prefer candidates who are closer to themselves in those categories Parties always try to “balance the ticket” during elections Voters also pay attention to candidates’ personality characteristics, such as decisiveness, honesty, integrity, and vigor
Suffrage = right to vote The US has developed a system of universal suffrage, but the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote in America, or turnout, is very low In 1996, only 49% voted; %; % Turnout for state and local races is even lower In European countries, national voter turnout is between 70 and 90%
Complex election regulations, including registration rules In Europe you just show up to vote Registration requirements requires more thought and action and lets face it, most Americans are pretty lazy and politically apathetic and uninformed Most registered voters are better educated, higher in income and social status, and older…and white Registration has become a lot easier – in 1993 a law was passed that allowed individuals to register when they apply for/ renew driver’s licenses, as well as in public assistance and military recruitment offices America holds elections during the work week – other nations hold them on weekends If you move, it becomes a pain in the butt because you have to remember to change your voter registration info otherwise you have to drive to your previous city to vote If you don’t vote often, you may be cancelled out of the system and reapply A lot of different elections at different times The weakness of the American party system in general – no more party machines to organize voters and physically bring them to the polls