Influence on VotersMr. Young

American Government

What are the major factors that influence voters to vote and for whom they vote for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHaWHlJdUoI&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Idiot- comes from the Greek word idiotes, which in ancient Athens referred to citizens who did not vote or otherwise take part in public life—they were ignorant of public affairs

1. Personal Background of voter2. Degree of voter loyalty to one of the

political parties3. Issues of the campaign4. Voters’ image of the candidates5. Propaganda

Age has a big factor on whether or not a person votes and who the candidate is that they vote for

Voters’ education, religion, and racial or ethnic background affect their voting habits

Voters’ background influences their voting but they do not always vote the way their background says they should

One who is caught between conflicting elements in his/her life such as religion, income level, and peer pressure

Other issues are usually important, such as campaign issues and the personalities of the candidates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKQABPI8Nc4&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Strong Party voters tend to vote for the party more than the issue or candidate

Straight-party ticket- one where a voter has selected candidates of his/her party only

Weak party voters are more influenced by issues and candidates than by parties

Independent voters usually have a weak party loyalty, but are becoming more and more important in Presidential elections

Starting to see more campaigns about candidates and not about parties, which could lead to voter apathy

Candidate- talk about personal attributes and character

Parties- more about issues

1. TV has helped spread campaign issues2. Voters today are better educated than

voters of the past3. Current issues seem to have a greater

impact on personal lives than they have in a while

Just as important as issues themselves is the way the voters perceive the issues

Most voters select candidate on image alone

Want president they can trust Candidate must at least be viewed as

competent to handle to job and problems that go with it

Candidates must then convey the impression that they have these certain qualities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnx-SqMYknI&feature=related

“Being a president is like riding a tiger. A man has to keep riding or be swallowed. A president is either constantly on top of events, or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him.”

Involves using ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion.

Propaganda is not necessarily lying or deceptions

Uses information in any way that supports a predetermined objective

Voter Participation can be reduced when this is used, voters do not appreciate it

There are 7 propaganda techniques

Name calling; identifying a candidate with a term such as “Un-American”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964/peace-little-girl-daisy

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004/any-questions

Interpreting a political event or statement from a particular point of view

Giving only one side of the facts to support a candidate’s position

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qsBGUh69FA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uXKVjom734

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2008/original-mavericks

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2008/no-maverick

Associating a patriotic symbol with a candidate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hje8D5is4RU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgH5PUqMxgU

One of the oldest, identifying the candidate as “just one of the common people”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pueoTqYTtu0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpN7eU20VJY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71oSnNsd9XU

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1992/morning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRt3dWFqs-M (start at 2:15)

A celebrity endorses a candidate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7P-rBO6-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUL5g--9YZA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUQW8LUMs8

Urging voters to support a candidate because everyone else is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KReGP2uW5yg

http://factcheck.org/

This is a great website to check the facts of different campaign ads to see if they are true, the truth is stretched, or there is no truth at all.

Some do not vote because they do not meet State requirements

Three basic requirements1. US Citizen2. Residency- must be a resident of that

state, for at least 30 days3. Registration- must register with a local

election board, good way to prevent voter fraud, almost 1/5 of Americans move to a new location every 5 years

Higher income levels and occupational status Usually better educated Active in community life Strong political party affiliation Middle-aged Subject to fewer cross-pressures than non-

voters Sense of political efficacy, believe that voting

is important, and that their vote matters

Apathy- they really do not care or are lazy

Lack of political efficacy- does not matter one way or the other, my vote doesn’t matter

Inconvenience- long lines, bad weather, etc

“Time-zone fallout” Social Characteristics: young (under 35),

unmarried, unskilled, rural

What are the major factors that influence voters to vote and for whom they vote for?