Why People vote Suffering through Suffrage

Clearly Stated Learning Objectives Examine the 2008 Election in the broader context of American electoral history Analyze the theories of why people vote and apply them to the 2008 Election. Identify and describe the formal and informal institutions involved in the electoral process at the Presidential and Congressional levels

What is suffrage? The Right To Vote Why we have expanded suffrage historically We have made it easier to vote

SOME NATIONS LOVE TO VOTE

Why so high elsewhere? Compulsory voting Fewer Elections PR systems and MMD

Compared to other Nations, Americans Don’t Vote Demographic Factors Behavioral Factors Institutional Factors

Ways of Measuring Voting in America Voting Age Population- those who voted/those who are 18 Voting eligible population- those who voted/those who registered There is a differencedifference

Who votes in America?

Age and Voting Older People vote more Why Curvilinear relationship!

Education and Voting This is a linear relationship Why do better educated people vote more

Education and Age in 2008

Income and Voting Wealthy people vote at higher Rates Correlated with income

Campaign Interest Linked to Education

Partisanship Strong Partisans more than independents

Voter Turnout in Million voted, 61% which was the highest since 1968 Where was turnout up? – Best States – Worst States

People expected more Voters Only slightly higher than year olds did not increase greatly Why No increase?

Why People Don’t Vote: Institutions

Registration Registration is a large restriction on voting States control this power States Once you register, you are more likely to vote

Other Institutional Barriers Restrictions on suffrage Electoral Competition.

Why People Don’t Vote Demographics

Why Young People Don’t Vote Are Unfamiliar with the system- Are one step above Gypsies Have less formal and political education

Classic Demographics Race Gender Region

HIGH AND LOW STIMULUS ELECTIONS The Saw-tooth Pattern

Presidential elections Why Higher What is the Result- the exciting saw-tooth pattern

Low turnout because of partisanship Fewer People Identify with one of the parties Increasingly difficult to target voters Partisan districts depress turnout

Is it rational to vote? Some Say No

The Rational Voting Calculus C= Cost of participation B= Benefit of voting P= Probability that your vote matters D= The civic duty term C> PB +D We Stay At Home C< PB +D We Vote

When to rationally vote The election is close You Benefit from the election

When it is Rational to abstain When the election’s outcome does not affect you fiscally. When the costs are very high – Information costs are especially high Information When the election is not close Better ways to participate