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