Learning Target: Understanding voter demographics/ who votes in elections Which party would a businessman from Texas support? Which party would a wealthy Hollywood actor most likely support? Agenda: Ch. 6 Discussion Q’s (Pairs) 2008 Voter Participation Article and Q’s Start Ch. 6 Notes on Voting & Voter behavior

Voting Behavior in America

Why Not Vote? Some people are just lazy/don’t want to vote Others believe there are just not good choices to pick from They have no sense of Political Efficacy – The feeling that their vote matters

Factors to Voting Weather Long lines A long work day Off-year election Registered voter? Time zone (California v. Maryland) Age

Chapter 6, Section 2 There are three factors that States require people to meet to be eligible to vote Citizenship Residence legal resident of a State for a minimum amount of time to vote in elections Age The 26th Amendment- no State can set a minimum voting age above 18

Chapter 6, Section 2 poll taxes--now forbidden by the 24th Amendment Literacy—a person’s ability to read or write—is no longer required in any State to vote

Registration- process of signing up to vote (meant to stop people from voting twice) General Elections- voters make final decisions about candidates & issues

Registering to Vote Look at Michigan Voter Registration Application Discuss Requirements to Register to Vote

The presidential election is always on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November (every 4 years)

How to cast a vote Check in with election official Vote by pulling a lever, mark an “x” on a paper ballot, punch a hole in a card, or touch a computer screen (different in many states)

Absentee Ballot- vote from home & mail in (sick, out of country, etc.)

In 2000 a confusing hole punch & drop box system may have affected the outcome in Florida which Bush defeated Gore by only 500 votes out of 10 million votes submitted This was controversial b/c of an unsure count

Should the whole country use the same voting method? Should every county within a state use the same voting method?

Would mailing ballots to people be a fair way to vote? Would Internet voting be a fair way to vote? Why or Why not?

Becoming an Informed Voter What are their qualifications? Where do they stand on issues important to you?

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Get info from: – Newspapers – Radio – Internet – Speeches – TV – Debates – Public Records

What affects you at the polls? Sociological Factors Income & occupation: Higher incomes usually go to Republicans, lower to Democrats Level of education: High school vs. College Gender: Women tend to lean Democratic Age- older you get become more conservative Religion Ethnic Background: Non-whites tend to support Democrats Geography Family, Friends, co-workers, etc.

Why vote? In recent years only about ½ of eligible voters have actually voted in presidential elections!

Psychological Factors Party Identification The loyalty of people to a particular political party is the single most significant & lasting predictor of how a person will vote Candidates and Issues Candidates & issues are two short-term factors that can influence even the most loyal Democrat or Republican People may vote out of their chosen party if they dislike a candidate or the party’s stand on a particular issue Voters’ perceptions of their party, the candidates, and the issues significantly affects their voting

How good of a job do you think they will do? Will they get the support they need from both parties?

Even if your candidate doesn’t win your vote still matters! You announce where you stand on the issues & what kind of representation you want!

You are performing you civic duty by voting You have the privilege of being able to vote that most of the world does not have

Soldiers have died since the Constitution was ratified to protect your freedoms and your ability to vote!