Voting and Political Participation

Participation Political Participation The tendency is to look at participation as just voting in elections. However it refers to every way we take part in politics and government. Educating yourself on issues Having a reasoned debate over issues Joining a political party Voting Giving a candidate a donation for their campaign

Two Ways to Look at Voting Voting Age Population Voting Eligible Participation Measuring the vote of all people who have reached the age of 18. Many people in this group are not eligible to vote (non-citizens, convicted felons) In 2012: 53.6% voter turnout based on VAP (Down 3.2% from 2008) Measuring the vote of all people who are legally allowed to vote. In 2012: 58.2% voter turnout based on VEP (Down 3.5% from 2008)

Why people didn’t vote

Why is U.S. Voter Turnout Low? Day of Voting - In the U.S. elections are held on Tuesdays. Other countries have weekend elections or voting holidays. Registration Process - In the U.S. voters have to send in their registration by mail. Other nations have an automatic process. Decrease in Trust in Government - Since 1970, our trust in government officials has decreased. Weakening of Political Parties - Less ability to mobilize voters Ballot Fatigue - Due to federalism we have a lot of elections, so people tend to sit some of them out.

Attempts to Encourage Voting Early Voting, Absentee Voting, Mail-in Voting Forty million registered voters failed to vote in recent elections Forty million voting-age citizens failed to register in either of the two elections Get Out the Vote Drives Limited impact. Door-to-door and phone calls were most effective In 2008, 38% of voters say they were convinced to vote in this way Easier Registration (Motor Voter Law, etc) Increased registration but not voter turnout by a significant factor

Rise of the American Electorate Under the Constitution states were able to establish who could vote and for what offices. Led to wide variations in Federal Offices Some House members were elected by district Others elected in a state wide election

Evolution of Voting 1971: 26th Amendment gives suffrage to all eighteen-year-olds. Turnout low and has fallen since. 1842: All House Members must be elected by districts 1920: 19th Amendment gives right to vote to women. Increased participation but no impact on results. 1870: 15th Amendment gives right to vote to African Americans 1965: Voting Rights Act guarantees the right to vote for African Americans

Evolution in Voting In all cases it was the Federal Government stepping in and dictating to the states who was eligible to vote and how elections are to take place. This reflects the overall theme of Centralization of Government. More and more the Federal Government is exerting power in more areas.

Who Can Vote? Age: 18 years or older Citizenship Requirement Criminal Record: Most states bar felons from voting Registration Requirement Not automatic Residency Requirements Registration must occur in advance of election

Voting Patterns When discussing voting patterns there are two fundamental questions to ask… Who is more likely to vote? Who is somebody more likely to vote for?

Voter Turnout

“Likely” Voters Older Voters High Income More Educated When income is taken into account African Americans and Whites vote at the same rate, which is a higher one than Latinos (although that doubled from 1996 to 2008) People who attend religious services

Voting Blocs Party Identification: People are more likely to vote for their party Social Class: Not as powerful, but higher income tends to vote Republican, unskilled labor tends to vote Democratic Race/Ethnicity: Blacks are most likely to vote Democratic, Hispanic are more likely to vote Democratic but not as reliable, White are slightly more likely to vote Republican, Asians are most likely to vote Republican Neighborhood: Urban residents are more likely to be Democrats. Rural resident are more likely to be Republicans. Education: The more years of school somebody has, the more likely they vote for Democrats

Political Participation Verba and Nie have categorized 6 forms of participation in U.S. citizens Inactives: Rarely vote, give money, or discuss politics (little education, low income, young,22%) Voting Specialists: Vote but do little else (not much education or income, older) Campaigners: Vote and get involved in campaign activities. (More educated, more interested in politics, identify with a party, have strong positions)

Political Participation 4) Communalists: Nonpartisan community activists with a local focus. 5) Parochial Participants: Don’t vote or participate in campaigns but will contact politicians about specific problems 6) Activists: Participate in all forms of politics (highly educated, high income, middle aged; 11% of population)