Elections and Voting Behavior

Three types of elections Primaries General Elections Specific policy questions

Policy questions Not done on a nationwide level, but in some countries it is (Brexit?) State level Referendum – voters approve or disapprove of a proposed piece of legislation or amendment Initiative Petition Some states Voters can put proposed changes in state constitution if they get enough signatures (10%) (112,544 in NV) Proposition 209 – ended affirmative action programs in CA Marijuana legalization in NV

Legitimacy Voters in the U.S. generally see elections as legitimate and accept the results

Voting Suffrage Who could vote at the time of the country’s founding Who can vote now? Who can’t? 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, 26th Amendments As the right to vote has been extended, fewer people eligible to vote have chosen to vote

Deciding whether to vote Is it worth your time? Should voting day be changed? Downs Model People vote if they believe one party’s policies will benefit them more than another party’s Political Efficacy Belief that your vote matters and makes a difference

Registering to vote Initially begun as a way to stop ballot- stuffing You have to register to vote in almost all states Other countries? Does this affect voter turnout? Motor Voter Act -1993 Check a box at DMV Hasn’t significantly increased voter turnout

Who Votes? Education Age Race Gender Religion Marital Status Government Employment

How we vote Mandate Theory Party Identification Who supports this theory? Political scientists are skeptical Party Identification How we see the candidates Integrity, reliability, and competence Also dependability and decisiveness Studies

Policy Voting Choices based on where candidates stand on the issues Four conditions Must have clear view of own policy position Know where candidates stand on issues See differences between the candidates Actually cast a vote