Political Participation Political Participation and Voter Behaviorand Voter Behavior

Political ParticipationPolitical Participation

VotingVoting Activism (Activists) – people who regularly Activism (Activists) – people who regularly

participate in the political processparticipate in the political process Helping with a campaignHelping with a campaign Attend meeting/rallyAttend meeting/rally Delegates to national conventionsDelegates to national conventions

Political Socialization – The process of developing Political Socialization – The process of developing your own personal political identity and attitudes your own personal political identity and attitudes towards government, leaders, issues, ecttowards government, leaders, issues, ect

Voting Rights History Voting Rights History

The Constitution purposely left the power to set suffrage The Constitution purposely left the power to set suffrage qualifications to each State.qualifications to each State.

Suffrage & Franchise Suffrage & Franchise means the right to vote.means the right to vote. The The electorateelectorate is all of the people entitled to vote. is all of the people entitled to vote. Initially, suffrage was limited to white male property owners.Initially, suffrage was limited to white male property owners.

Today, the American electorate is over 200 million.

Nearly all citizens at least 18 years old can qualify to vote.

Extending SuffrageExtending Suffrage

5.5. 1971: 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18. 1971: 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.

1.1. Early 1800s: religious, property, and Early 1800s: religious, property, and tax payment qualifications gradually tax payment qualifications gradually eliminated. eliminated.

2.2. 1870: 15th Amendment intended to end 1870: 15th Amendment intended to end race-based voting requirements.race-based voting requirements.

3.3. 1920: 19th Amendment extends 1920: 19th Amendment extends suffrage to women.suffrage to women.

4.4. 1960s: 1960s:

‘65: Voting Rights Act guaranteed minorities’ right to vote.

’64: 24th Amendment eliminated the poll tax.

The 5 Stages of Suffrage Expansion:

Voter QualificationsVoter Qualifications

Constitution sets limits on States’ voter qualifications:

The States Cannot…

Universal RequirementsUniversal Requirements 3 Voter Eligibility 3 Voter Eligibility

Requirements Requirements

CitizenshipCitizenship Most States require US Most States require US

citizenship citizenship ResidenceResidence Most States require residency Most States require residency

for minimum amounts of timefor minimum amounts of timeAgeAge 26th Amendment requires that 26th Amendment requires that

no State set a minimum voting no State set a minimum voting age above 18. age above 18.

Who may NOT vote?Who may NOT vote? Non-citizensNon-citizens Non-residents of a stateNon-residents of a state

10 – 30 days10 – 30 days

Un-registered votersUn-registered voters To prevent fraudTo prevent fraud

In some states… In some states… Mentally incompetentMentally incompetent Convicted FelonsConvicted Felons Dishonorably discharged from Dishonorably discharged from

the armed forcesthe armed forces HomelessHomeless PolygamistsPolygamists

Very Low # Very Low #

Political Participation and Awareness in AmericaPolitical Participation and Awareness in America

Who DOES vote?Who DOES vote?

Half of eligible voters in a Half of eligible voters in a typical presidential yeartypical presidential year 63% in 2010! 63% in 2010!

1/3 of eligible voters in a 1/3 of eligible voters in a non-presidential electionnon-presidential election

Youth VoteYouth Vote

In 2008…In 2008…

TotalsTotals MM FF******************************************************************************18-2418-24 48%48% 45%45% 52%52%25-3425-34 57%57% 52%52% 61%61%35-4435-44 62%62% 60%60% 65%65%45-5445-54 67%67% 65%65% 69%69%55-6455-64 71%71% 69%69% 73%73%65-7465-74 72%72% 72%72% 72%72%75 & up75 & up 67%67% 72%72% 64%64%

ComparisonComparison

Likelihood of Voting by EducationLikelihood of Voting by Education

<9<9thth Grade Grade 38%38%

9-129-12thth Grade Grade 39%39%

High School DiplomaHigh School Diploma 54%54%

Some BachelorsSome Bachelors 68%68%

Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor’s Degree 77%77%

Advanced DegreesAdvanced Degrees 82%82%

Why NOT Vote?Why NOT Vote?Excluded from voting legallyExcluded from voting legally

Homeless, polygamist, Homeless, polygamist, convicted felons, ect convicted felons, ect

Illness, Out of town, forgot, Illness, Out of town, forgot, Too busy, transportation, Too busy, transportation, Didn’t like the campaigns…Didn’t like the campaigns…

Apathy! (Laziness)Apathy! (Laziness) Bad Weather!Bad Weather!

Why do people NOT vote?Why do people NOT vote?

Weekday VotingWeekday Voting

Weak Party EffortsWeak Party Efforts

Voter SatisfactionVoter Satisfaction

Why do people NOT vote?Why do people NOT vote? Political EfficacyPolitical Efficacy – Can I – Can I

make a difference? Does make a difference? Does my vote matter? Distrustmy vote matter? Distrust

Absentee BallotsAbsentee Ballots – if you – if you will be out of town for an will be out of town for an electionelection

Who does NOT voteWho does NOT vote Less Likely…Less Likely…

Under 35Under 35 Unmarried and UnskilledUnmarried and Unskilled South or rural areasSouth or rural areas Poorer/less educatedPoorer/less educated

Who DOES vote?Who DOES vote? Higher end of social, Higher end of social,

economic, and economic, and educational laddereducational ladder

ActivismActivism

Closer elections Closer elections encourage higher voter encourage higher voter turnoutturnout

People Vote Based on…People Vote Based on…1.1. Political PartyPolitical Party

2.2. IssuesIssues1.1. Individual PreferencesIndividual Preferences

2.2. The state of the economyThe state of the economy

3.3. Candidate AppealCandidate Appeal1.1. PersonalPersonal

2.2. Media – “Close-ups”Media – “Close-ups”

3.3. Looks and PersonalityLooks and Personality

4.4. Experience, Leadership, Experience, Leadership, Good Judgment, Strength, Good Judgment, Strength, Energy, and CharismaEnergy, and Charisma

Study of Voting BehaviorStudy of Voting BehaviorSociological FactorsSociological Factors Income, Occupation – high income RepublicanIncome, Occupation – high income Republican Education – more education RepublicanEducation – more education Republican Sex, Age – Women vote Democrat; older vote Sex, Age – Women vote Democrat; older vote

RepublicanRepublican Religion/ethnicity – Jews, Catholics, and non-Religion/ethnicity – Jews, Catholics, and non-

whites support Democratswhites support Democrats Geography – large cities vote DemocratGeography – large cities vote Democrat Family – People vote like familyFamily – People vote like family

Will you vote?Will you vote?

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Key connection between people and their governmentKey connection between people and their government Competing to influence the governmentCompeting to influence the government

4 Roles of Political Parties4 Roles of Political Parties

Recruiting and LabelingRecruiting and Labeling Can help people chose a candidateCan help people chose a candidate Seal of ApprovalSeal of Approval

Acting as WatchdogsActing as Watchdogs Watch and criticize other partiesWatch and criticize other parties

Getting Out InformationGetting Out Information Make point-of-view publicMake point-of-view public

Running the GovernmentRunning the Government Make decisions based on ideologyMake decisions based on ideology

LawsLaws AppointmentsAppointments

Two-Party SystemTwo-Party System 2 main parties2 main parties Other parties exist – difficult to Other parties exist – difficult to

win national electionswin national elections Green PartyGreen Party Tea PartyTea Party

Other systemsOther systems One Party SystemOne Party System

Soviet Union, China, N. Korea, Soviet Union, China, N. Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, IranCuba, Vietnam, Iran

Multiple Party SystemMultiple Party System Germany, ItalyGermany, Italy

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) - christian democrat, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) - christian democrat, centre-right: 27.8%, 180 seats and 7.4%, 46 seats centre-right: 27.8%, 180 seats and 7.4%, 46 seats

Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)– social democrat, Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)– social democrat, centre-left: 34.2%, 222 seats centre-left: 34.2%, 222 seats

Free Democratic Party (FDP) – liberal, centre-right: 9.8%, 69 Free Democratic Party (FDP) – liberal, centre-right: 9.8%, 69 seats seats

The Left – socialist, communist, left: 8.7%, 54 seats The Left – socialist, communist, left: 8.7%, 54 seats Alliance '90/The Greens – green, centre-left: 8.1%, 51 seatsAlliance '90/The Greens – green, centre-left: 8.1%, 51 seats______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

National Democratic Party of Germany - NPD): 1.6% National Democratic Party of Germany - NPD): 1.6% The Republicans: 0.6% The Republicans: 0.6% The Grays – Gray Panther: 0.4% The Grays – Gray Panther: 0.4% Family Party of Germany: 0.4% Family Party of Germany: 0.4% Human Environment Animal Welfare : 0.2% Human Environment Animal Welfare : 0.2% Party of Bible-abiding Christians: 0.2% Party of Bible-abiding Christians: 0.2%

MULTIPARTY SYSTEMSMULTIPARTY SYSTEMS

Germany’s minor partiesGermany’s minor parties

Anarchist Pogo Party of Anarchist Pogo Party of GermanyGermany

Bavaria Party Bavaria Party Communist Party of GermanyCommunist Party of Germany German Centre Party German Centre Party German Communist PartyGerman Communist Party Christian Centre PartyChristian Centre Party Citizens Make Politics Citizens Make Politics Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Movement

SolidaritySolidarity Die ViolettenDie Violetten Ecological Democratic PartyEcological Democratic Party Feminist Party of GermanyFeminist Party of Germany

Free VotersFree Voters Law and Order Offensive Law and Order Offensive

PartyParty Marxist Leninist Party of Marxist Leninist Party of

GermanyGermany Die PARTEI -- party created Die PARTEI -- party created

by editors of the satirical by editors of the satirical magazine titanicmagazine titanic

Projekt ParteiProjekt Partei Social Equality PartySocial Equality Party South Schleswig Voter South Schleswig Voter

Federation Danish and Federation Danish and frisian minorities in frisian minorities in Germany Germany

** COALITIONS**** COALITIONS**

Political Parties in the U.S.Political Parties in the U.S.

Individuals… Individuals… Can be in a partyCan be in a party Can keep it a secretCan keep it a secret

Many are independentMany are independent Voter who doesn’t belong to or support a specific Voter who doesn’t belong to or support a specific

partyparty

US and 2 party systemUS and 2 party system

Historical InfluenceHistorical Influence American Political Beliefs and American Political Beliefs and

ValuesValues Values the systemValues the system Likes Overlapping views – win Likes Overlapping views – win

electionselections Winner Takes All SystemWinner Takes All System

Who gets the most votes winsWho gets the most votes wins Hard for minor partiesHard for minor parties Encourages politicians to include Encourages politicians to include

more peoplemore people

The Role of Minor PartiesThe Role of Minor Parties

Influence outcome of electionsInfluence outcome of elections Encourages Major parties to face important issuesEncourages Major parties to face important issues

Get voters back from single-issue partiesGet voters back from single-issue parties

GrassrootsGrassroots – People at the local level; average voters – People at the local level; average voters