Ch. 8: Political Participation

I. Closer look at nonvoting

A.A. Problem: First Explanation Problem: First Explanation Voter Voter ApathyApathy. . .So when do more vote?. . .So when do more vote?

B.B. Problem: Better ExplanationProblem: Better Explanation Low Low number registerednumber registered

C.C. How to cure the ProblemHow to cure the Problem1.1. One idea that has been used: One idea that has been used: ““get-out-get-out-

the-vote drivesthe-vote drives”” These attempts fail These attempts fail because the main issue is registration.because the main issue is registration.

2.2. Another plan is to get more people to Another plan is to get more people to register to vote: register to vote:

a.a. Potential roadblocksPotential roadblocks1)1) ApathyApathy2)2) In US, burden of registering to vote falls In US, burden of registering to vote falls

on the individual voter on the individual voter 3)3) Costs compared to EuropeCosts compared to Europe

a)a) time and energytime and energyb)b) reregister if you movereregister if you move

Nonvoting Continued

A.A. Make it easier to register: motor-voter Make it easier to register: motor-voter law, 1995 (Democrats in favor, law, 1995 (Democrats in favor, Republicans against…why?)Republicans against…why?)

1.1. but the effects are mixed, however, it did but the effects are mixed, however, it did increase registrationincrease registration

2.2. a study in 2001 stated a study in 2001 stated ““that those who that those who register when the process is costless are register when the process is costless are less likely to vote.less likely to vote.””

The Rise of the American Electorate

A.A. From state to federal controlFrom state to federal control1.1. Initially, states decided who could vote Initially, states decided who could vote

for which offices for which offices Why the states?Why the states?2.2. This led to wide variation in federal This led to wide variation in federal

elections:elections:a.a. Historic QualificationsHistoric Qualificationsb.b. 1515thth Amendment Amendmentc.c. WomenWomen’’s Suffrages Suffraged.d. Youth VoteYouth Votee.e. 2323rdrd Amendment- Amendment- ratified 1961, gave District ratified 1961, gave District

of Columbia residents the right to vote in of Columbia residents the right to vote in presidential electionspresidential elections

f.f. Current QualificationsCurrent Qualifications

From State to Federal Control: Historic Qualifications

A.A. ReligionReligion (eliminated by state legislatures) (eliminated by state legislatures)B.B. PropertyProperty (eliminated by state legislatures) (eliminated by state legislatures)C.C. RaceRace (eliminated by 15th Amendment) (eliminated by 15th Amendment)D.D. SexSex (eliminated by 19th Amendment) (eliminated by 19th Amendment)E.E. IncomeIncome (eliminated 24th Amendment [poll (eliminated 24th Amendment [poll

tax])tax])F.F. LiteracyLiteracy (Voting Rights Act of 1965) (Voting Rights Act of 1965)G.G. Minimum age of 21Minimum age of 21 (eliminated by 26th (eliminated by 26th

Amendment)Amendment)

Article 1: members of the H of R be chosen by the “people of the several states.”

Know these for the Ch. 6 test!!

From State to Federal Control: 15th Amendment

A.A. Following the interpretations of the 15th Following the interpretations of the 15th Amendment Southern states used evasive Amendment Southern states used evasive stratagems to keep blacks from voting.stratagems to keep blacks from voting.

1.1. Literacy testLiteracy test2.2. Poll taxPoll tax3.3. Grandfather clause—allowing the poor, illiterate Grandfather clause—allowing the poor, illiterate

white person to vote--if he or his ancestors white person to vote--if he or his ancestors voted before 1867 he did not need to meet the voted before 1867 he did not need to meet the requirementsrequirements

4.4. White primariesWhite primaries5.5. When all else failed, intimidation was usedWhen all else failed, intimidation was used6.6. Most of these stratagems ruled unconstitutional Most of these stratagems ruled unconstitutional

by the Supreme Courtby the Supreme Court

From State to Federal Control: Women's voting rights

A.A. Noooo! DonNoooo! Don’’t let the women vote… t let the women vote… they will ruin everything!they will ruin everything!

B.B. Several western states permitted Several western states permitted women to vote by 1915women to vote by 1915

C.C. Nineteenth Amendment ratified 1920Nineteenth Amendment ratified 1920

D.D. No dramatic changes in outcomesNo dramatic changes in outcomes

From State to Federal Control: Youth Vote

A.A. Voting Rights Act of 1970Voting Rights Act of 1970B.B. Young people tend to have the lowest turnoutYoung people tend to have the lowest turnout when when

the 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971, turnout the 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971, turnout declineddeclined

Voter turnout: Who votes? Who doesn't? Who cares?

A.A. Debate of declining percentages: two Debate of declining percentages: two theoriestheories

1.1. Real declineReal decline as popular interest and party as popular interest and party competition decreasescompetition decreases

2.2. Apparent declineApparent decline, induced in part by more , induced in part by more honest honest ballotballot counts of today counts of today----ergo the saying: ergo the saying: "Vote "Vote early, vote often!" early, vote often!" The JungleThe Jungle----U SinclairU Sinclair

a.a. Parties once printed ballotsParties once printed ballots

b.b. Ballots cast in publicBallots cast in public

c.c. Parties controlled countingParties controlled counting

d.d. Australian ballot began to be adopted in 1910—DefineAustralian ballot began to be adopted in 1910—Define

Voter turnout: Who votes? Who doesn't? Who cares?

A.A. Most scholars see some real decline in US due Most scholars see some real decline in US due to several causes:to several causes:

1.1. Registration more difficultRegistration more difficult

2.2. Long Ballot: excessive # of offices and issuesLong Ballot: excessive # of offices and issues

3.3. Type of election:Type of election:a.a. General election turnout General election turnout >> primary election turnout primary election turnout

b.b. Chief executive election turnoutChief executive election turnout > > legislative election legislative election turnout.turnout.

c.c. Presidential elections have the highest turnout.Presidential elections have the highest turnout.

d.d. National election turnoutNational election turnout > > state election turnout state election turnout

4.4. Too many elections – Too many elections – ““ballot fatigueballot fatigue””

Voter turnout: Who votes? Who doesn't? Who cares?

A.A. Characteristics of those most likely to Characteristics of those most likely to votevote

1.1. Level of EducationLevel of Education-greatest predictor of voting -greatest predictor of voting (cuts across others)(cuts across others)

2.2. Income-those with higher levels are more likely Income-those with higher levels are more likely to voteto vote

3.3. Age- Older people (except for the very old or Age- Older people (except for the very old or infirm) are more likely to vote.infirm) are more likely to vote.

4.4. Race-whites vote more than blacks vote more Race-whites vote more than blacks vote more than Hispanics than Hispanics why??why??

5.5. However, when the effects of income and However, when the effects of income and education are eliminated, blacks and whites education are eliminated, blacks and whites vote at the same rates.vote at the same rates.

Voter turnout: Who votes? Who doesn't? Who cares?

A.A. Does low turnout really matter??Does low turnout really matter??1.1. If voters accurately represented a If voters accurately represented a

cross-section of the US (accurate cross-section of the US (accurate sampling) then low turnout would be sampling) then low turnout would be relatively unimportantrelatively unimportant

2.2. The problem is that some groups The problem is that some groups (which?) (which?) vote at a much higher rate vote at a much higher rate than others and are overrepresented. than others and are overrepresented. ””Class BiasClass Bias””

Who participates in politics?

A.A. Forms of participationForms of participation1.1. Voting the most commonVoting the most common2.2. Six forms of participationSix forms of participation

a.a. InactivesInactives: 1/5 of the pop.: 1/5 of the pop.b.b. Voting specialists:Voting specialists: vote, but do little else vote, but do little elsec.c. CampaignersCampaigners: vote and likely to get involved in : vote and likely to get involved in

campaign activitiescampaign activitiesd.d. Communalists:Communalists: vote, reserve energy for community vote, reserve energy for community

activitiesactivitiese.e. Parochial participants:Parochial participants: do not vote, stay out of election do not vote, stay out of election

campaigns and civic associations but are willing to campaigns and civic associations but are willing to contact local officials about personal concernscontact local officials about personal concerns

f.f. Complete activistsComplete activists: 1/9 of pop.: 1/9 of pop.

Who participates in politics?

A.A. The meaning of participation ratesThe meaning of participation rates1.1. Americans vote less, but participate moreAmericans vote less, but participate more

a.a. Other forms of activity becoming more commonOther forms of activity becoming more common

b.b. Some forms more common here than in other Some forms more common here than in other countriescountries

2.2. Americans elect more officials and have more Americans elect more officials and have more electionselections

3.3. U.S. turnout rates heavily skewed to higher U.S. turnout rates heavily skewed to higher status personsstatus persons

2000 Presidential Election

2004 Presidential Election

2008