Agenda:  Quick-write  Notes: Voting  Categorizing Activity Homework:  Complete the Ideology Quiz and Assignment and bring it in to class Take out:  Notebook  Pen/Pencil Objectives:  Describe effective polling and its effect on public opinion and voter turnout.  Weigh different factors that affect voter participation and turnout

 What are the qualifications that you need to have in order to vote in Washington State?

 A citizen of the United States;  A legal resident of Washington State  At least 18 years old by Election Day.  NOT IF…  convicted of a felony and not had your voting rights restored  declared by a court to be mentally incompetent and ineligible to vote.

 We are citizens of a REPUBLIC (representative democracy)  We need to select individuals to represent the needs of a group  It is a form of expressing public opinion

 Members of Congress are elected every 2 years  President is Elected every 4 years  2008 – President Obama was elected, along with every member of the House of Representatives (they get elected every 2 years!), and 1/3 of the Senate (they have 6 year terms and are on a rotating election basis).  2010 – All the members of the House of Representatives ran for election again, along with a different 1/3 of the Senate.  2012 – The President, All the House Members, and the remaining 1/3 of the Senate seats

 Religion (eliminated by states)  Property (eliminated by states)  Race (eliminated by 15 th Amendment)  Sex (eliminated by 19 th Amendment)  Income (eliminated by 24 th Amendment)  Literacy (eliminated by Voting Rights Act of 1965)  Minimum Age of 21 (eliminated by 26 th Amendment)

 First: Obtain an envelope and categorize the contents by: “Likely to Vote” and “Less Likely to Vote”  Second: Now arrange from Most likely to Least likely within each list

 Next Step:  1.Compare Lists with another group--> Discuss disagreements  2.In your group of 4 obtain a sheet of printer paper and marker from front  3.Make at least 4 comparative statements.  4.Record those statements on a sheet of printer paper (1 per group).  Write large enough to read when put on document camera. Example: An 18-year-old would be less likely to vote than a 60-year-old. The teenager has few issues he/she may feel could be addressed by government.

 As you read, do not repeat statements. Must present a new statement each time.  Another group member can accompany to answer questions.  As we go we will actively evaluate and I recommended you take notes!  After each statement is read I will ask if you Agree, Disagree or would like to qualify the statement.  Agree = THUMBS UP  Disagree = THUMBS DOWN  Qualify = AGREE but for different reason than stated.

 Construct a mind map/conceptual drawing in which you show how public opinion relates to or is transformed into public policy.  Incorporate at least 4 terms (polling, elections, etc.) and extend it or elaborate upon it as you deem necessary.

 “A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t cross the street to vote in a national election.”  Bill Vaughan Bill Vaughan  Does low voter turnout make a mockery of democracy? (ie: does low voter turnout matter?)

 US  ~50% in presidential elections  ~30—40% in midterm elections  Even lower in state elections  Declining since 1960  Western European  ~90% turn out rate

 We have no compulsory voting  No fines, no same day registration, dual party system allows for fewer choice

 Institutional Barriers  How many can you name?

 Registration  Ballot Fatigue  Excessive # of Elections  Type of election  Difficulty of Attaining absentee ballot  Age—youth are the worst

 Political Reasons:  Lack of political efficacy  Dissatisfaction with candidates, parties, etc.  Lack of strong 2 party competition  Weaknesses of parties in mobilizing voters

Factors Affecting

 Solid South—traditionally Democratic, trending Republican  Coattail effect  Critical Elections “realigning”  Long term change in political alignment

 Probably second strongest predictor of voting behavior  Split ticket voting  Independents  Rising quickly  Tend to be young, college educated, above average incomes Retrospective/Prospective Voting

 Characteristics of those likely to vote  Level of educational achievement  greatest predictor of voting Cuts across all other factors  Income—rich vs. poor  Age—older vote more than young  Race—whites more likely than African Americans more likely than Hispanics

 Does it matter?  Yes—class bias—older, richer, white people dominate  No—nonvoters are demographically different, not politically different

 Sex  Female / male = Dem, GOP  Race  More likely to vote Dem, African Americans—most loyal Dem voters  Social Class  Upper = GOP; Lower = Dem  Religion  Protestant = GOP; Catholic = Dem; Jewish = Dem.