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Figure 13.2- Why People Don’t VoteFigure 13.2- Why People Don’t Vote
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Voters lining up outside a Voters lining up outside a BaghdadBaghdad polling station during the polling station during the 2005 Iraqi election2005 Iraqi election..
Voter turnout was considered high despite widespread concerns of violence.Voter turnout was considered high despite widespread concerns of violence.
WOMEN VOTING IN AFGHANISTAN WOMEN VOTING IN AFGHANISTAN
““BALLOT CONFUSION” ??BALLOT CONFUSION” ??
SOUTH AFRICANS WAITINGSOUTH AFRICANS WAITINGTO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME (1994)TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME (1994)
12 HOURS OF LATER12 HOURS OF LATER
Ways to Improve Voter TurnoutWays to Improve Voter Turnout
Make registration and absentee voting easier.Make registration and absentee voting easier.
Make Election Day a holiday.Make Election Day a holiday.
Strengthen political parties.Strengthen political parties.
Patterns in Vote ChoicePatterns in Vote Choice
Party members most dependable for party nominees.Party members most dependable for party nominees.
Ticket-splittingTicket-splitting has increased. has increased.
Race: minorities largely vote for Democrats.Race: minorities largely vote for Democrats.
Gender: women usually vote for Democrats.Gender: women usually vote for Democrats.
Income: poor typically vote for Democrats.Income: poor typically vote for Democrats.
Ideology: liberals largely vote for Democrats.Ideology: liberals largely vote for Democrats.
Issues: Issues: prospectiveprospective and and retrospective judgmentsretrospective judgments..
AV- Turnout of Eligible VotersAV- Turnout of Eligible Voters
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Figure 13.1- South v. Non-SouthFigure 13.1- South v. Non-South
Elections and Voting Elections and Voting BehaviorBehavior
Chapter 10Chapter 10
Edwards, Wattenberg, and LineberryEdwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry
Government in America: People, Politics, and PolicyGovernment in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Fourteenth EditionFourteenth Edition
How American Elections WorkHow American Elections WorkTypes of elections:Types of elections:
Primary electionsPrimary elections: Select party nominees Select : Select party nominees Select officeholders officeholders
General electionsGeneral elections: Select options on specific policies: Select options on specific policies
ReferendumReferendum: state-level method of direct legislation that : state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve proposed legislation or gives voters a chance to approve proposed legislation or constitutional amendmentconstitutional amendment
Initiative Initiative : process permitted in some states whereby voters : process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote, given a sufficient number of signaturesvote, given a sufficient number of signatures
Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First ChoiceWhether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
SuffrageSuffrage: the legal right to vote: the legal right to vote
Extended to African Americans by the Extended to African Americans by the 1515thth Amend Amend
Extended to Women by the Extended to Women by the 1919thth Amendment Amendment
Extended to people over 18 by the Extended to people over 18 by the 2626thth Amendment Amendment
Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First ChoiceWhether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
U.S. has low voter turnoutU.S. has low voter turnout
Political EfficacyPolitical Efficacy: the belief that one’s political : the belief that one’s political participation really mattersparticipation really matters
Civic DutyCivic Duty: the belief that in order to support democratic : the belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always votegovernment, a citizen should always vote
Those who see clear differences between parties are likely Those who see clear differences between parties are likely to vote.to vote.
If indifferent, then one may rationally abstain from voting.If indifferent, then one may rationally abstain from voting.
From Government in America, 13th edition.
Registering To VoteRegistering To Vote
Voter RegistrationVoter Registration: a system adopted by the states : a system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of that requires voters to register well in advance of the election daythe election day
Registration procedures differ by state.Registration procedures differ by state.
Motor Voter ActMotor Voter Act: passed in 1993, requires states to : passed in 1993, requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply permit people to register to vote when they apply for their driver’s licensefor their driver’s license
Who Votes?Who Votes?
More educationMore education = more likely to vote. = more likely to vote. Most important factorMost important factor
BUT connected to many other ‘traits’BUT connected to many other ‘traits’
OlderOlder = more likely to vote = more likely to voteUNTIL mobility becomes a problemUNTIL mobility becomes a problem
CaucasianCaucasian = more likely to vote. = more likely to vote.BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education or higher incomeeducation or higher income
FemaleFemale = more likely to vote = more likely to vote
Who Votes? Who Votes?
MarriedMarried = more likely to vote = more likely to vote
Union memberUnion member = more likely to vote = more likely to vote
Traits are cumulativeTraits are cumulative
––possessing several adds uppossessing several adds up
Candidates want a good Candidates want a good visual imagevisual image..
Especially on dimensions of integrity, Especially on dimensions of integrity, reliability, and competencereliability, and competence
PersonalityPersonality plays a role in vote choice, especially plays a role in vote choice, especially if a candidate is perceived to be incompetent if a candidate is perceived to be incompetent or dishonest. (Elite?) (Career Politician?)or dishonest. (Elite?) (Career Politician?)
How Americans Vote:How Americans Vote:Explaining Citizens’ DecisionsExplaining Citizens’ Decisions
Party IdentificationParty Identification
People still generally vote for a party they agree with. People still generally vote for a party they agree with.
With the rise of With the rise of candidate-centered politicscandidate-centered politics, parties’ hold , parties’ hold on voters declined in the 1960s and 1970s. (More on voters declined in the 1960s and 1970s. (More split-split-ticket votingticket voting.) .)
Is this changing with increase ‘Is this changing with increase ‘partisanshippartisanship’?’?
Many more voters make an individual voting decision and Many more voters make an individual voting decision and are up for grabs each election, (so-called are up for grabs each election, (so-called floating votersfloating voters).).
How Americans Vote:How Americans Vote:Explaining Citizens’ DecisionsExplaining Citizens’ Decisions
How Americans Vote:How Americans Vote:Explaining Citizens’ DecisionsExplaining Citizens’ Decisions
Mandate Theory of Elections*Mandate Theory of Elections*
The idea that the winning candidate has a The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politicsher platforms and politics
*Politicians like the theory better than *Politicians like the theory better than political scientists do.political scientists do.
Policy VotingPolicy Voting
Basing your vote choice on issue preferences and Basing your vote choice on issue preferences and where the candidates stand on policy issueswhere the candidates stand on policy issues
Policy voting may occur if : Policy voting may occur if : Voters know where they and the candidates stand on Voters know where they and the candidates stand on
issues and see differences between candidatesissues and see differences between candidates
Unlikely to occur because:Unlikely to occur because:Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.Media tend to focus on the “horse race” not issues.Media tend to focus on the “horse race” not issues.
Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries increasing chances for in the party primaries increasing chances for policy voting.policy voting.
Understanding Elections and Voting BehaviorUnderstanding Elections and Voting BehaviorCandidates who vow to continue popular policies are more Candidates who vow to continue popular policies are more
likely to win elections.likely to win elections.
Retrospective votingRetrospective voting: voters cast a vote based on what a : voters cast a vote based on what a candidate has done for them lately.candidate has done for them lately.
Those who feel worse-likely to vote against incumbents.Those who feel worse-likely to vote against incumbents.Bad economies make politicians nervous.Bad economies make politicians nervous.
Start HereStart Here
on on
ThursdayThursday
The Last Battle: The Last Battle: The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College
Electoral college actually elects the president—Electoral college actually elects the president—founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the countrycountry
States (political parties) choose the electorsStates (political parties) choose the electors
Winner-Take-AllWinner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis system gives bigger emphasis to more populated statesto more populated states
How the Electoral College worksHow the Electoral College works
Each state has as many votes as it does Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators.Representatives and Senators.
Winner of popular vote typically gets all the Winner of popular vote typically gets all the Electoral College votes for that stateElectoral College votes for that state
Electors meet in December, votes are reported by Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in Januarythe vice president in January
If no candidate gets a majority (270 votes), the If no candidate gets a majority (270 votes), the House of Representatives votes for president, House of Representatives votes for president, with each state casting one vote.with each state casting one vote.
A Tale of Three ElectionsA Tale of Three Elections
Elections and the Scope of GovernmentElections and the Scope of Government
Federal Gov’t does more now because…Federal Gov’t does more now because…
Elections generally support government policies Elections generally support government policies and power.and power.
Voters feel they are sending a message to Voters feel they are sending a message to government to accomplish somethinggovernment to accomplish something
Thus, the government expands to fill the needs of Thus, the government expands to fill the needs of the voters.the voters.
SummarySummaryVoters make two basic decisions at election time:Voters make two basic decisions at election time:
1-Whether to vote1-Whether to vote2-Who to vote for2-Who to vote for
Party identificationParty identification, , candidate evaluationscandidate evaluations, and , and policy positionspolicy positions drive vote choice. drive vote choice.
How important are demographics ?How important are demographics ?Voter Demographics = Stereotyping?Voter Demographics = Stereotyping?
Does this influence campaigns? Policies?Does this influence campaigns? Policies?
Elections are fundamental to a democracy.Elections are fundamental to a democracy.
WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION
WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONWILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONIMPORTANT TERMSIMPORTANT TERMS
TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENTTWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT
TWENTY-THIRD AMENDMENTTWENTY-THIRD AMENDMENT
VOTER APATHYVOTER APATHY
VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1970VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1970
VOTING-AGE POPULATIONVOTING-AGE POPULATION
VOTING SPECIALISTSVOTING SPECIALISTS
WHITE PRIMARIESWHITE PRIMARIES
WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONWILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONIMPORTANT TERMSIMPORTANT TERMS
WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION
QUESTIONSQUESTIONS
1-IS VOTER PARTICIPATION 1-IS VOTER PARTICIPATION LOWER IN THE USA THAN IN LOWER IN THE USA THAN IN EUROPEAN CONTRIES? EUROPEAN CONTRIES? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
2-WHAT HAVE BEEN THE 2-WHAT HAVE BEEN THE POLICY CONSEQUENCES OF A POLICY CONSEQUENCES OF A BROADER ELECTORATE.BROADER ELECTORATE.
3-WHAT COULD BE DONE TO 3-WHAT COULD BE DONE TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT?INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT?
4-WHAT SORTS OF PEOPLE ARE 4-WHAT SORTS OF PEOPLE ARE OVERREPRESENTED ANOUNG THOSE OVERREPRESENTED ANOUNG THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE A GREAT DEAL? WHO PARTICIPATE A GREAT DEAL? DOE THIS BIAS THE POLICIES THE DOE THIS BIAS THE POLICIES THE GOVERNMENT WILL ADOPT? IF SO, GOVERNMENT WILL ADOPT? IF SO, WHICH ONES?WHICH ONES?
WILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONWILSON CH. 6 - POLITICAL PARTICIPATIONQUESTIONSQUESTIONS