1. Chapter 8 Political Participation

2. A Closer Look At Nonvoting
VAP vs. VEP – Page 179
Voting-Age Population: All U.S. residents age 18 or older.
Voting-Eligible Population: Excludes U.S. residents that are not legally permitted to cast a ballot
Register to vote today!

3. 2016 election turnout
Source: Rafael Lopez Pintor, Maria Gratschew, and Kate Sullivan, “Voter Turnout Rates from a Comparative Perspective,” in Voter Turnout Since 1945: A Global Report (Stockholm, Sweden: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2002).

4. A Closer Look at Nonvoting
Sources of low voter turnout
a relatively low percentage of the voting-age population is registered to vote.
approximately one-half of all nonvoters are registered
Registered nonvoters give three major reasons why they did not vote:
Too busy or had scheduling conflicts
Family chores or obligations
Believed their vote would not make a difference - *What’s this called?

5. Significant Voting Amendments
15th
17th
19th
24th
26th

6. Impacts on Voter Turnout
Motor Voter Laws (1990s) – increase registration – register at the DMV – getting a license, renewing tag etc.
Most “Motor Voters” were less likely to actually vote
Usually in USA, onus is on individual to get registered
Photo ID Laws – decrease registration – raise requirements to register to vote
Losing the right to vote
State policies for individuals convicted of a felony

7. Factors that influence voter participation
Demographics: Education, Age, Race
State voter registration laws includes procedures on how, when and where to vote
Midterm v. Presidential election – differences in media coverage; increased interest in and importance of national elections
Primary v. general elections
Partisans and activists vote in primaries
Only party members can vote in closed primaries (not independents)
Many primaries are noncompetitive (Congress especially)
General elections simplify choices
Media coverage is greater during general elections (conventions, more info available)
Increased interest in and importance of general elections
Mobilization (organized turnout drives)

8. Political Models to explain voting behavior
Rational-choice voting – voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest
Retrospective voting – Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past (such as recent economic conditions. It’s the economy, stupid!)
Prospective voting – Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future
Party-line voting – Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot (down ballot, straight ticket)
Copyright © 2013 Cengage

9. Source: Adapted from U. S
Source: Adapted from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, June 2008, Table 400.

10. Voter turnout
Voter turnout in federal elections has declined in the last half of the 20th century.
Factors that led to this include:
Larger electorate and demographic changes (drop in voting age, minorities enfranchised, population increase)
More mobile population
De-alignment (less party identification)
Rising cynicism (don’t see difference in candidates; declining trust)
Loss of efficacy

11. Today Finish ‘debate’ prep Next Wednesday – vocab quiz for 4, 7, 8
Next Friday – Test on Unit 2 – Beliefs and Behaviors
Copyright © 2013 Cengage

12. Nonvoting Forms of Political Participation
Litigation
Protest
Contacting media, public officials
Campaign work – canvassing, voter registration
Campaign contributions
Running for political office
Political discussion to persuade others
Joining political organizations