Learning Target: Understanding voter demographics/ who votes in elections Which party would a...
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Transcript of Learning Target: Understanding voter demographics/ who votes in elections Which party would a...
Learning Target:
Understanding voter demographics/ who votes in elections
Which party would a businessman from Texas
support?
Which party would a wealthy Hollywood actor most likely
support?
Agenda:Ch. 6 Discussion Q’s (Pairs)
2008 Voter Participation Article and Q’s
Start Ch. 6 Notes on Voting & Voter behavior
Voting Behavior in America
Why Not Vote?
• Some people are just lazy/don’t want to vote• Others believe there are just not good choices
to pick from • They have no sense of Political Efficacy
– The feeling that their vote matters
Factors to Voting
• Weather• Long lines• A long work day• Off-year election• Registered voter?• Time zone (California v.
Maryland)• Age
Chapter 6, Section 2Chapter 6, Section 2
There are three factors that States require people to meet to be eligible to vote
Citizenship
Residence• legal resident of a State for a minimum amount of
time to vote in elections
Age• The 26th Amendment- no State can set a
minimum voting age above 18
Chapter 6, Section 2Chapter 6, Section 2
• poll taxes--now forbidden by the 24th Amendment
• Literacy—a person’s ability to read or write—is no longer required in any State to vote
• Registration- process of signing up to vote (meant to stop people from voting twice)
• General Elections- voters make final decisions about candidates & issues
Registering to Vote
• Look at Michigan Voter Registration Application
• Discuss Requirements to Register to Vote
• The presidential election is always on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November (every 4 years)
How to cast a vote
• Check in with election official• Vote by pulling a lever, mark an
“x” on a paper ballot, punch a hole in a card, or touch a computer screen (different in many states)
• Absentee Ballot- vote from home & mail in (sick, out of country, etc.)
• In 2000 a confusing hole punch & drop box system may have affected the outcome in Florida which Bush defeated Gore by only 500 votes out of 10 million votes submitted
• This was controversial b/c of an unsure count
• Should the whole country use the same voting method?
• Should every county within a state use the same voting method?
• Would mailing ballots to people be a fair way to vote?
• Would Internet voting be a
fair way to vote? Why or Why not?
Becoming an Informed Voter
• What are their qualifications?
• Where do they stand on issues important to you?
• http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/409522/march-01-2012/people-who-are-destroying-america---teachers
• Get info from:–Newspapers–Radio–Internet–Speeches–TV–Debates–Public Records
What affects you at the polls?Sociological Factors
• Income & occupation: Higher incomes usually go to Republicans, lower to Democrats
• Level of education: High school vs. College• Gender: Women tend to lean Democratic• Age- older you get become more conservative• Religion• Ethnic Background: Non-whites tend to support
Democrats • Geography• Family, Friends, co-workers, etc.
Why vote?
• In recent years only about ½ of eligible voters have actually voted in presidential elections!
Psychological Factors
Party Identification• The loyalty of people to a
particular political party is the single most significant & lasting predictor of how a person will vote
Candidates and Issues• Candidates & issues are
two short-term factors that can influence even the most loyal Democrat or Republican
• People may vote out of their chosen party if they dislike a candidate or the party’s stand on a particular issue
Voters’ perceptions of their party, the candidates, and the issues
significantly affects their voting
• How good of a job do you think they will do?
• Will they get the support they need from both parties?
• Even if your candidate doesn’t win your vote still matters!
• You announce where you stand on the issues & what kind of representation you want!
• You are performing you civic duty by voting
• You have the privilege of being able to vote that most of the world does not have
• Soldiers have died since the Constitution was ratified to protect your freedoms and your ability to vote!