1. E LECTION L ESSONS FROM THE C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION

2. L ESSON 3: V OTERS AND E LECTIONS V ISUALS

3. Discussion Questions 1.Did everyone who was eligible to vote in the last presidential election actually vote? 2.If the right to vote is so important, why do some people choose not to vote?

4. V ISUAL 3.1 T HE C OSTS OF V OTING 1. Dollar costs. No dollar costs may be imposed by fees or taxation. Amendment 24 to the U.S. Constitution rules out dollar costs: Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. 2. Other costs. While the Constitution prohibits monetary charges, this does not mean that voting is entirely without costs. Voters will incur opportunity costs. The opportunity cost of voting is what a voter gives up in choosing to vote. Here are some possible opportunity costs: Time taken to register Time to find a voting location, or to vote via absentee ballot. Time taken to vote, which may also mean lost wages for voters who miss work; or babysitting or transportation costs. Time needed to investigate candidates and issues. L ESSON 3 – V OTERS AND E LECTIONS E LECTION L ESSONS © C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION, N EW Y ORK, NY

5. Reason All18-24 10. Inconvenient Polling Place 9. Transportation Problems 8. Forgot 7. Don’t Know/Refused to Answer 6. Registration Problems 5. Out of Town 4. Didn’t Like the Candidates 3. Not Interested 2. Illness or Disability 1. Too Busy In 2008, citizens aged 18-24 made up 12.6% of the voting age population, but only 9.3% of the voters. L ESSON 3 – V OTERS AND E LECTIONS V ISUAL 3.2 T OP T EN R EASONS R EGISTERED V OTERS G AVE FOR N OT V OTING IN 2008 E LECTION L ESSONS © C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION, N EW Y ORK, NY 2.7% 2.8% 7.0% 8.0% 8.8% 12.9% 13.4% 14.9% 17.8% 2.8% 2.4% 4.5% 11.2% 9.0% 14.2% 8.0% 12.1% 3.2% 21.0%

6. V ISUAL 3.3 W HY DO P EOPLE V OTE ? When the election result is likely to be close and a person’s vote may change the election result: o People may vote to support a particular politician. o People may vote to remove incumbents (“Throw the rascals out”). When the election is not likely to be close and a person’s vote is not likely to change the election result. o People may believe it is their civic duty to vote. o People may vote to voice their opinions regardless of the likely outcome. o People may vote in order to feel that they are part of the winning team. L ESSON 3 – V OTERS AND E LECTIONS E LECTION L ESSONS © C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION, N EW Y ORK, NY

7. Men or Women White or Black or Asian Naturalized Citizen or Native Born Married or Never Married Separated or Divorced Low Income or High Income Employed or Unemployed H.S. Degree or Bachelor’s Degree Minnesotan or Floridian or Hawaiian Veteran or Non-Veteran Renter or Homeowner Young (18-24) or Old (45-64) Women 65.7 to 61.5 White 66.1 - Black 64.7 - Asian 47.6 Native 64.4 to 54 Married 69.9 to 53.5 Divorced 59 to 53.5 High Income 91.8 to 51.9 Employed 65.9 to 54.7 Bachelor’s Degree 77 to 54.9 MN. 75 - FL. 63.8 - HI. 51.8 Veteran 70.9 to 62.8 Homeowner 67.8 to 51.6 Old 69 to 49 V ISUAL 3.4 W HO V OTES M ORE ? W EIGH THE C OSTS AND B ENEFITS … Of all citizens, who voted most, percentage-wise, in the 2008 presidential election? L ESSON 3 – V OTERS AND E LECTIONS E LECTION L ESSONS © C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION, N EW Y ORK, NY

8. D EBRIEFING Who do you think politicians will pay more attention to during an election? What can be done to lower the opportunity cost of voting so more people can vote? Pay people to vote… Mandatory voting…. Advertising campaign by government… L ESSON 3 – V OTERS AND E LECTIONS E LECTION L ESSONS © C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION, N EW Y ORK, NY

9. Y EAR V OTERS AS A P ERCENTAGE OF THE U.S. C ITIZEN V OTING –A GE P OPULATION 198064.0 198464.9 198862.2 199267.7 199658.4 200059.5 200463.8 200863.6 V ISUAL 3.5 R EPORTING V OTING, 1980-2008 L ESSON 3 – V OTERS AND E LECTIONS E LECTION L ESSONS © C OUNCIL FOR E CONOMIC E DUCATION, N EW Y ORK, NY

10. Follow up Questions: 1.Sue is paid an hourly wage of $10. She punches a time clock every day. Sam is paid an annual salary of $140,000 a year. He is allowed to take off two hours a day for lunch. For Sam and Sue, it will take two hours to vote. Sam votes on his lunch break, while Sue takes off work two hours early to get to the polls. What can be said about the costs and benefits of voting for these two citizens? A. Sue values voting more than Sam. B. Sam values voting more than Sue. C. Sue’s opportunity cost in terms of lost wages is higher than Sam’s. D. Sam’s opportunity cost in terms of lost wages is higher than Sue’s. 2. Which is not an opportunity cost of voting in a U.S. federal election? A. A fee charged for voting B. Wages lost while voting C. Time taken to learn about the candidates and their positions on issues D. Gasoline used to drive to the polls