Since the early 1970s, voter participation in the United States has been regularly under 60 percent for presidential elections. What does the cartoon suggest about voter apathy?

Nonvoters Some don’t vote for all of the positions listed on a ballot (called voter fatigue) The most votes are cast for positions that are more well-known such as President, Senator, or Governor Off-year elections tend to have lower turnout Many Americans don’t think that their vote has any real impact on what government does or does not do (this is false)

In the United States, 71 percent of all eligible voters—but only 54 percent of eligible voters aged 18–24—are registered to vote. In this photo, young volunteers work to get out the youth vote in 2012.

This graph is based on the U. S. population aged 18 and over This graph is based on the U.S. population aged 18 and over. What can you conclude about voter turnout in presidential as opposed to off-year elections from this graph?

Influences on Voter Behavior a voter’s personal characteristics People with higher levels of income, education, and occupational status are more likely to vote Nonvoters are likely to be younger than age 35, unmarried, and unskilled a voter’s group affiliations a voter’s own life experiences

Influences on Voter Behavior Most voters who have higher incomes or live in rural areas tend to vote for Republicans Most voters who have lower incomes and live in urban areas tend to vote for Democrats Younger voters tend to be more liberal, while older voters tend to be more conservative More nonvoters live in the South and in rural areas

This exit poll categorizes voters based on income and education This exit poll categorizes voters based on income and education. According to the text, did the actual vote reflect this preliminary data? Explain.

Influences on Voter Behavior: Religion Muslims and Jews tend to vote for Democrats Christians Catholics often do not follow any particular voting patterns Evangelical Christians overwhelmingly vote for Republicans (called the Religious Right) Nonreligious voters overwhelmingly vote for Democrats

This chart compares voter behavior in 2008 and 2012 based on religious affiliation and race. How did religion and race influence voter choice in these two elections?

Influences on Voter Behavior: Race/Ethnicity Latinos Cuban Americans, especially older ones, tend to vote for Republicans Mexican and Puerto Rican Americans tend to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats African Americans also vote overwhelmingly for Democrats Asian Americans have trended towards the Democratic Party in recent elections

Geographical Patterns Voters in the big cities of the North and East and on the Pacific Coast tend to support Democrats Voters in smaller cities, rural areas, the Great Plains, and the South are likely to support Republicans Suburban communities tend to be highly competitive

Voters in urban areas tend to vote Democratic, even in States like Texas that vote overwhelmingly Republican. What factors might influence urban versus rural voting patterns?

Shifts in Voting Patterns Southern states such as North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia are becoming more competitive College-educated whites don’t support Republicans as much as they used to The Sunbelt region is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse due to the New Great Migration and immigration, especially from Asia and Latin America There are more people who live in the Sunbelt who grew up in the Northeast or Great Lakes regions

Shifts in Voting Patterns Rural areas are becoming less populated, giving them less political power at the ballot box in state elections More voters are becoming independents (neither Republican nor Democrat) Among U.S. voters, about 28 percent identify as Republicans, 31 percent as Democrats, and 41 percent as independents Those who are still partisan are becoming more ideological