Voting in /2006pubs/p pdf

Non-Voting Why don’t people vote?

Why is voter turnout so low in the U.S.? “I don’t care” “My vote doesn’t count…I’m only one person!” “It takes too much time” “Even if I vote, the representatives won’t respond.” “Both of the candidates are idiots!” “I don’t know anything about politics, the candidates, or the issues.” “Registration is tough to do” (Only 2/3 of the voting age is registered)

Why people do not vote “Cannot-Voters”: Those unable to vote Actual non-voters: Those who…  Believe it doesn’t make a difference  Distrust politics  Have no sense of political efficacy (own influence or effectiveness in politics)

Voters vs. Non-Voters Voters  Higher income, education, & status  Long-time residents  Strong party affiliation Non-Voters  Younger than 35  Unmarried or unskilled  Rural/low socio-economic status

Where and how do you vote?

Where Precincts Polling Places When Election Day  November, every even numbered year, Tuesday after the first Monday Who (common state laws) Age, Residency, Citizenship IL must register 30 days before

How Absentee Voting  Vote without going to the poll  20 million people in 2004  Apply for absentee ballot Straight-ticket voting  Vote for all or most candidates associated with your party Split-ticket voting  Vote for candidates of different parties Coattail Effect  Strong candidate can attract voters to their party

Nominating Process and Candidates

Nomination- candidate selection 1. Self-Announcement 2. The Caucus 3. Convention 4. Direct Primary Closed- only declared party members can vote, primary is closed to anyone else Open- any qualified voter can cast a ballot IL- Must vote in primary of same party as last primary the voter participated in. Loosely enforced. Voters may change party affiliation at polls or caucus. 5. Petition (local levels)

ELECTION PROCESS FEDERAL CONTROL  SET DATE, TIMES, ELECTORAL VOTES  CONGRESS REQUIRES: SECRET BALLOTS VOTING MACHINES PREVENTION OF VOTER FRAUD HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT 2002 UPGRADE ELECTION PROCESS USE OF ELECTRONIC VOTING

TYPES OF BALLOTS 1-Australian 2-Office Group 3-Sample Ballot 4-Bedsheet Ballot 5-Electronic vote counting 6-Vote by Mail 7-On Line Voting

Money & Elections 1-Campaign Spending  $2 bil for Presidential election 2004;  Congressional spending $1 bil 2004  What do they spend $ on? 2-Sources of Funding  Small contributors  Wealthy  Candidates Ross Perot—1992 bid for Pres. Spent $65 mil

Funding Continued  Subsidies—grant of $ from the gov’t  Political Action Committees/Special Interest Groups Why donate?  Influence  Issues  Social recognition  Desire for laws to be passed

HOW MUCH TO GIVE?? 1-individuals  $2100 for Fed. Candidate in a general election  $5,000 to a PAC  Limit in total $101,400 2-PAC’s special committee that seek to change public policy Usu. Associated with business, labor & professional organizations (AMA, AFL-CIO) $15,000 to a political party $5,000 to any one candidate in an election $600 mill in presidential & congressional campaigns

Money $$$$ Soft v Hard Money  Election $ vs. $ for “party building”  Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) McCain & Feingold  Ban of soft $ to political parties sp?State=IL&Year=2006

MASS MEDIA & PUBLIC OPINION TRYING TO INFLUENCE POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION  POLLS  TV  INTERNET  RESULTS: GET OUT THE VOTE INFORM THE VOTER

Electoral College-

END RESULTS: Popular Vote doesn’t determine winner of Presidential elections  ELECTORAL COLLEGE DOES!  Usually “winner take all” election Need 270 to win election! Senators + Representatives= number of electoral votes

Are you an “Idiot”?  “Idiot” in Greek means those who didn’t vote or take part in public life 