Chapter 8 Political Participation

A Closer Look At Nonvoting VAP vs. VEP – Page 179 Voting-Age Population: All U.S. residents age 18 or older. Voting-Eligible Population: Excludes U.S. residents that are not legally permitted to cast a ballot Register to vote today!

2016 election turnout Source: Rafael Lopez Pintor, Maria Gratschew, and Kate Sullivan, “Voter Turnout Rates from a Comparative Perspective,” in Voter Turnout Since 1945: A Global Report (Stockholm, Sweden: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2002).

A Closer Look at Nonvoting Sources of low voter turnout a relatively low percentage of the voting-age population is registered to vote. approximately one-half of all nonvoters are registered Registered nonvoters give three major reasons why they did not vote: Too busy or had scheduling conflicts Family chores or obligations Believed their vote would not make a difference - *What’s this called?

Significant Voting Amendments 15th 17th 19th 24th 26th

Impacts on Voter Turnout Motor Voter Laws (1990s) – increase registration – register at the DMV – getting a license, renewing tag etc. Most “Motor Voters” were less likely to actually vote Usually in USA, onus is on individual to get registered Photo ID Laws – decrease registration – raise requirements to register to vote Losing the right to vote State policies for individuals convicted of a felony

Factors that influence voter participation Demographics: Education, Age, Race State voter registration laws includes procedures on how, when and where to vote Midterm v. Presidential election – differences in media coverage; increased interest in and importance of national elections Primary v. general elections Partisans and activists vote in primaries Only party members can vote in closed primaries (not independents) Many primaries are noncompetitive (Congress especially) General elections simplify choices Media coverage is greater during general elections (conventions, more info available) Increased interest in and importance of general elections Mobilization (organized turnout drives)

Political Models to explain voting behavior Rational-choice voting – voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest Retrospective voting – Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past (such as recent economic conditions. It’s the economy, stupid!) Prospective voting – Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future Party-line voting – Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot (down ballot, straight ticket) Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Source: Adapted from U. S Source: Adapted from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, June 2008, Table 400.

Voter turnout Voter turnout in federal elections has declined in the last half of the 20th century. Factors that led to this include: Larger electorate and demographic changes (drop in voting age, minorities enfranchised, population increase) More mobile population De-alignment (less party identification) Rising cynicism (don’t see difference in candidates; declining trust) Loss of efficacy

Today Finish ‘debate’ prep Next Wednesday – vocab quiz for 4, 7, 8 Next Friday – Test on Unit 2 – Beliefs and Behaviors Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Nonvoting Forms of Political Participation Litigation Protest Contacting media, public officials Campaign work – canvassing, voter registration Campaign contributions Running for political office Political discussion to persuade others Joining political organizations