How American Elections Work Three types of elections: Select party nominees (primary elections) Select officeholders (general elections) Select options on specific policies .

Direct Democracy Initiative: process permitted by some states Where voter may place proposed changes to state low on the ballot if they have sufficient signatures obtained on a petition. Referendum: State level. Direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislator or constitutional amendment proposed by state legislature.

Direct Democracy Recall: a procedure that allows voters to call a special election for a specific official in an attempt to throw him or her out of office before the end of their term. Only 18 states allow recall. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

History of Sufferage 1800 15th Amendment 19th Amendment Brown v Board of Education 24th Amendment 26th Amendment

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Deciding Whether to Vote U.S. typically has low voter turnouts. Some argue it is a rational choice to not vote. Political Efficacy: The belief that one’s political participation really matters. Civic Duty: The belief the in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.

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

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Registering To Vote Voter Registration: A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of the election day. Registration procedures differ from state to state. Motor Voter Act: Requires states to permit people to register to vote when the apply for their driver’s license.

Legislation Civil Rights Act 1964 Voting Rights Act 1965 Section 5 of Voting Rights Act The Shelby County decision June 25 2013

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

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

Voter Participation Why some Americans vote and others do not Education and income Age Civic attitudes Apathy Alienation Civic duty © 2013, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Who Votes? Education: More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor. Age: Older = more likely to vote. Race: Caucasian = more likely to vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education. Gender: Female = more likely to vote.

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Who Votes? (continued) Marital Status: Married = more likely to vote. Union Membership: Union member = more likely to vote. Traits are cumulative - possessing several adds up.

© 2013, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

© 2013, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

Conventional Forms of Participation Other Than Voting Campaign and lobbying activities Virtual participation Political campaigns and citizen mobilization Democratizing effects, but also lend themselves to political polarization Community activities Decline in social capital?

Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protest movements Each social (political) movement started with anger at established interests and seek change Tea Party: Initial target: Republican lawmakers for the 2008 bank bailout Played a key role in Republican takeover of House in 2010 Resulting House turmoil has weakened popular support

Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street protest movements Occupy Wall Street: Began as protest against bailout of the financial industry and government’s failure to hold bankers accountable Has seen popular support decline because of public’s unease with protesters confronting police OWS’s target was private wealth and aimed to curb the political influence of large political donors

© 2013, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics The public’s response to protest activity Political protests have a long history in America Americans less likely to protest than citizens in other democracies Public support for protest activity relatively low © 2013, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

© 2013, McGraw-Hill Education. All Rights Reserved.

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

How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Decisions Mandate Theory of Elections The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics. Politicians like the theory better than political scientists do.

How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions Party Identification People generally vote for a party they agree with. Rise of candidate-centered politics has changed this view. Now many voters are individualistic. Characteristics of each candidate have become more important than party.

How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions Candidate Evaluations: How Americans See the Candidates Candidates want a good visual image. Most important dimensions are integrity, reliability, and competence. Personality still plays a role.

How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions Policy Voting Basing your vote choice on issue preferences. Must know where they and the candidates stand on issues and see differences between candidates. Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues. The press tends to focus on the “horse race” not the issues. Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries.

The Last Battle: The Electoral College Electoral College actually elects the President - founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the country States choose the electors Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated states

The Last Battle: The Electoral College How it works today: Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators. Winner of popular vote typically gets ALL the Electoral College votes. Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in January. If no candidate gets 270 votes (a majority), the House of Representatives votes for president, with each state getting ONE vote.

Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior Democracy and Elections Voters can steer government only when there are noticeable policy differences between the candidates. Candidates who vow to continue popular policies are more likely to win elections. Policies affect voting behavior through retrospective voting. Bad economies make politicians nervous.

Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior Elections and the Scope of Government Elections generally support government policies and power. Voters feel they are sending a message to government to accomplish something. Thus, the government expands to fill the needs of the voters.