political participation & voting behavior how we access democracy
TRANSCRIPT
Political Participation & Voting Behavior
How We Access Democracy
Americans Believe in Political Equality
Steps to expand Suffrage
15th Amendment extended right to vote racial minorities
19th amendment extended right to vote to women
26th amendment extended right to vote to 18 year olds
Motor Voter Act, 1993 allowed citizens to register to vote when applying for driver’s license
Americans Believe in Political Equality
More Voting Rights Protections
17th Amendment allows for the direct election of Senators
23rd Amendment gives D.C. residents the ability to vote in Presidential elections (3 electoral votes)
24th Amendment eliminated the poll tax
Voting Rights Act, 1965 – prohibits discrimination in voting
VOTING: #1 Form of Political Participation
Americans are more likely to vote than engage any other form of political participation
Yet Americans vote at lower rates than most western democracies
And we usually have more nonvoters than voters. Why?
Reasons for Low TurnoutRegistration requirements restrict voting (some other countries have compulsory registration, automatic registration, or resident registration) America’s voting rate looks better if you look at the percent of registered voters who vote.
Lack of penalties for not voting (Australia fined; Italy shamed)
Expanded suffrage lowered turnout by enfranchising populations less likely to vote (poor, minority, young)
Reasons for Low TurnoutStructural Problems
Weekday elections
Difficulty getting to registration & voting locations (difficulty of absentee voting)
Frequent elections/Ballot fatigue
Larger electorate (my vote won’t matter)
Mobile population (must re-register; reestablish habit)
Many uncompetitive races due to gerrymandering & ideological geographic segregation (African Americans - the most loyal & liberal of Democratic voters - are concentrated in cities)
Reasons for Low TurnoutProblematic Trends
Party voters declining as issue voters increase (Party ID is BEST predictor of voting and Party affiliation is most often used to make voting decisions)
Independents increasing (less partisan = less engaged)
Decreasing trust in government leads to decreasing efficacy and lower voter turnout
Cross pressure reduces turnout
Voter apathy/rational ignorance
Who Does Vote?More educated people vote are more likely to vote (biggest factor)
Older people
People part of an organized religion
People with higher incomes
Whites vote most reliably (but Blacks vote at a higher rate if you correct for income & education)
Women (but males and females vote in similar proportions in Presidential elections)
Married people
Union members
What Can Improve Turnout?Laws that protect minority voting rights (Voting Rights Act, 1965; 15th Amendment)
Laws that increase ease of voting (voting by mail, Motor Voter Act of 1993, Same Day Voter Registration, Early voting)
Voter mobilization efforts
More media attention
More information available
Impact of Voting Trends: Divided Government
Divided Government: Each party controls at least one part of government
Increase in Independents leads to more candidate centered voting
Increase in ticket splitting (vote for Republican for Congress and Democrat for President)
American voters tend to favor divided government (don’t seem to trust one party with control)
Types of Political Participation
VOTING: voting in a presidential election is the most common type of political participation
Why you should do it: lets you select the people who run the country
CONTACTING GOV’T OFFICIALS or MEDIA: can be through letters, email, phone calls, or in person
Why you should do it: gives direct access; can target specific issues
Types of Political Participation
CAMPAIGN DONATION
Why you should do it: giving $ is an easy way to advocate for your beliefs
CAMPAIGN VOLUTEER
Why you should do it: have contact with candidate while spreading your preferences
MEMBERSHIP IN INTEREST GROUP/POLITICAL ORG
Why you should do it: Solidarity with others of your beliefs; strength in numbers
Types of Political Participation
PERSUASIVE DISCUSSION: talk to others about the political issues that matter to you
Why you should do it: focuses attention on issues you think are important; can win new converts
PROTEST: preferably nonviolent; marches, rallies, street corners
Why you should do it: low cost way to attract a lot of attention to your cause
Types of Political Participation
LITIGATION: sue over a law or gov’t action you think is wrong
Why you should do it: don’t need to be in the majority to be right according to the Constitution
RUN FOR OFFICE: local, state or national office
Why you should do it: allows you directly influence the government
Who Participates?The Usual Suspects, those with…
A high interest in politics
Strong political efficacy (internal & external)
A sense of Civic Duty
Higher socioeconomic status
Higher educational levels