Voter TurnoutLearning Objective 4:

 Analyze changes in voting patterns and behavior over time among demographic groups including religion, gender, race, age, and education.

Historical Qualifications

Religion (eliminated by state leg.)

Property (eliminated by state leg.)

Race (eliminated by 15th amend.)

Sex (eliminated by 19th amend.)

Income (eliminated by 24th amend; poll tax)

Literacy (eliminated by Voting Rights Act ’65)

Min. age of 21 (eliminated by 26th amend.)

Current Qualifications

Citizenship

Residency (21 days before election in OR.)

Age (18; 26th Amend)

Registration (in all states, except N. Dakota)

Turnout in the U.S.

U.S. -- 50% in presidential, 30-40% in midterm congressional elec., lower in state/local (decline since ’60)

Industrialized countries (W. Europe)-- as high as 90%

Why? Some countries impose penalties (e.g, fines, stamped

papers) Multi-party system allows for more clear choices Automatic/same day registration Voting as national holiday or on weekends

General elections

National 60.1% in ’04 36.8% in ’06 mid-terms 61.7% in ’08 general 37.8% in ’10 mid-terms 58.7% in ’12 general

Oregon 64.3% in ‘12 (#14 in

Country) 48.7% in ‘10 mid-terms 85.6% in ’08 gneral

Learning Objective 4:

Analyze changes in voting patterns and behavior over time among demographic groups including religion, gender, race, age, and education.

Barriers to Voting

Registration: National Voter Registration Act 1993: “Motor Voter Bill” designed to increase turnout

Ballot Fatigue (excessive number of measures/offices to vote on)

Excessive number of elections

Type of election General Election > Primary Election (where

you vote for nominee of party) Presidential > Legislative National > State

Barriers Continued

Absentee ballots (if living abroad)

Young people have lowest turnout

Political Reasons Political efficacy Dissatisfaction Lack of strong 2-party competition Weakness of parties in mobilizing voters

Who Votes?

Level of education: greatest predictor of voting, those with higher income vote more regardless of race, sex, or income status

Income: higher income level votes more often

Age: older voters more likely to vote

Race: whites more likely to vote, blacks more likely than hispanics

Sex: historically women voted at lower rate than men, comparable today.

Does Turnout Matter

If voters represented a true cross section of the U.S. (e.g., race, gender, income), than low turnout would matter

Older whites with high levels of income are over-represented (problem of class bias)

Studies show that nonvoters are not that politically different from voters and would not vote in a significantly different way

Learning Objective 4:  

Analyze changes in voting patterns and behavior over time among demographic groups including religion, gender, race, age, and education.

Other Forms of Participation

Petitions

Demonstrations/Marches

Local Party Mtgs.

Campaign Contributions

Writing letters/e-mail

Trying to persuade others