Chapter 8: Political Participation Voting Nonvoting Methods of Participation

Political Participation Various ways in which people take part in politics and government: -Voting -Party affiliation -Donating money to campaigns -Keeping informed of issues -Debating/Discussing issues -Protesting -Contacting local officials

Nonvoting VAP (Voting Age Population - Citizens18 years of age VEP (Voting Eligible Population) - Citizens 18 years of age - EXCLUDES those who are legally not allowed to vote - convicted felons, noncitizens 2008 VAP = 231 million, voter turnout 56.8% 2008 VEP = 213 million, voter turnout 61.7% Presidential election voter turnout = roughly 50% (just under)

Nonvoting In partners, analyze the data charts focusing on nonvoters. Evaluate and develop 1 CUMMULATIVE observation for each section of nonvoter data SHARE OUT/Discuss!

Nonvoting Trends Percent Registered/Voted PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Ages 18 – 20 register and vote the LEAST Lower levels of education and low income vote the LEAST AGE /3141/2851/4153/ /3349/3552/4362/ /4355/4456/4766/ /6776/6877/6977/70

Nonvoting Trends WHYYYY??! Three-Quarters (75%) of nonvoters said….. - Busy - Scheduling conflicts (work/school) 12% of nonvoters said… - Family chores/obligations 12% of nonvoters said… - Believe their vote wouldn’t make a difference

Attempts to Increase Voting Poll booth times (early AM – late PM) Mail in ballots (day prior) Absentee ballot Motor-voter law : allow voters to register upon receiving driver’s license Same day registration GOTV (Get-Out-the-Vote)Drive -door-to –door visits, phone calls = most effective -leaflets, , mail, radio ads

Attempts to Increase Voting ** Although the number of registered voters has gone up significantly since the motor-voter law, voter turnout has NOT increased! Even “social pressure”/media/celebrity influence…. 62% of pressured nonvoters DID NOT vote in 2008

Decline of U.S. Voter Turnout Since 1960, voter turnout has declined in EVERY presidential election. WHY?! Each student will be assigned a reading section of Richard W. Boyd (Wesleyan University) * READ and HIGHLIGHT/IDENTIFY the reasons along with a brief explanation of each

Decline of U.S. Voter Turnout Warm-Up: What were the various reasons and explanations from the article? 1. ** CHANGING BIRTH RATES Postwar baby boom = largest voting group currently 2. ** CHANGING AGE DISTRIBUTION 26 th amendment = young voters (nonvoters) 3. ** COMPLEX ELECTIONS There are too many elections for Americans to partake in 4.** SCHEDULED ELECTIONS Staggered elections = requires more attention of voters 5.** PRIMARIES Requires affiliation, is one more election, requires attention of voters

Voting Analyze the 2012 presidential election exit poll and develop voting trend observations 2012 EXIT POLL DATA

Voting

Voting Trends

Ages 65+ register and vote the MOST Higher educated vote the MOST Higher incomes vote the MOST

Voting Trends

Gap between voter turnout in presidential elections and midterm elections -“Staggered” schedule of midterm elections v. general election ** general election =1 day of voting (easier) -Structure of voter impact ** general election = reelection or new president (easy to understand) ** midterm election = new/partial congress (confusing and lack of feeling a difference) -More campaigning & high profile in general election -More value in presidential election ** lack of confidence in congressional leaders -Electoral college v. midterm popular vote ** pressure that every vote counts = influential?

Barriers to Voting (historical) Literacy Tests - illiterate and uneducated kept from voting - former slaves were uneducated Poll Taxes - poor persons were kept from voting - former slaves were poor Grandfather Clause - voting allowed for those whose grandfather was able to vote prior to allowed poor whites to vote White Primary - kept blacks from voting in the state primaries (in the south)

Barriers to Voting (current) Voting Rights Act S.C. ruling in which the federal government NO LONGER has to approve state voting laws Demographics - areas of poverty and lack of resources Do you think that state voting regulations, such as voter ID laws, negatively impact the eldery, poor, and uneducated?