Objective 26k: Evaluate the factors that influence voters and nonvoters.

Voter Apathy Caused by events such as the Vietnam War and Watergate Caused by events such as the Vietnam War and Watergate People feel as though their opinion does not matter People feel as though their opinion does not matter Results in an increase of nonvoters (people who have never voted or hardly ever vote) Results in an increase of nonvoters (people who have never voted or hardly ever vote)

Political Socialization Process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions Process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions This includes the events, experiences, and people that influence a person’s political decisions This includes the events, experiences, and people that influence a person’s political decisions

Income Voters in low income households are more likely to be Democrats. Conversely, a voter from a high income household is more likely to be a Republican.

Education Generally the more education a person receives, the more likely a person is to vote for a Republican candidate. Less education is correlated with the tendency to vote for a Democratic candidate.

Age Younger voters are more likely to be Democrats while older voters tend to be republican. Consequently, between when the baby boomers increased the young age bracket, more Democrats were elected to office After 1980 the inverse was true

Registration (voter affiliation) This is the largest deciding factor in deciding how a person will vote Often people do not pay attention to a candidate’s campaign and vote solely based on their party affiliation. When a person votes for candidates of only one party it is referred to as straight ticket voting.