Political Participation Voting and Nonvoting Participation in the

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Political Participation: Voting and Non-voting Participation in the United States

Political Participation: Voting and Non-voting Participation in the United States

Political Participation n Do Americans participate in government? ¨ What are the trends? ¨

Political Participation n Do Americans participate in government? ¨ What are the trends? ¨ What explains levels of participation in the U. S. ? n How do participation levels of Americans compare with citizens of other nations? ¨ What n can explain the differences? What do those who participate look like? ¨ Demographic n factors and turnout Should Americans participate? Does participation matter?

Political Participation n Two Types of Political Participation: ¨ Conventional n n n n

Political Participation n Two Types of Political Participation: ¨ Conventional n n n n Participation Voting Letter writing Contact with Representatives Working on Campaigns Campaign Contributions Joining Groups (social capital) Running for Office ¨ Unconventional n Participation Boycotts, Sit-ins, Marches, Demonstrations, Violence

Expanding Suffrage Constitutional Amendments: n 15 (1870) = Race n 19 (1920) = Sex

Expanding Suffrage Constitutional Amendments: n 15 (1870) = Race n 19 (1920) = Sex n 23 (1961) = Residents of DC can vote for President but not Congress n 24 (1964) = Poll tax n 26 (1971) = 18 years old, changes from 21

Voting Trends Initially, suffrage changes resulted in increased participation n Recently, voter turnout steadily

Voting Trends Initially, suffrage changes resulted in increased participation n Recently, voter turnout steadily on the decline = the vanishing electorate n High of around 60% in Presidential elections -- 50% in midterm -- even lower in local elections n

Various Explanations for Limited Participation Why Americans Still Don’t Vote n Voter Registration n

Various Explanations for Limited Participation Why Americans Still Don’t Vote n Voter Registration n ¨ Not automatic ¨ Requires foresight ¨ Residency requirements n Mobile Electorate Voting Percentage of Registered Voters rivals the voter turnout in other countries n Motor-Voter Legislation n

Various Explanations for Limited Participation n There are too many elections in the United

Various Explanations for Limited Participation n There are too many elections in the United States ¨ High information costs Election Day (Tuesday, work day) n Voter apathy n People believe they gain few personal benefits to themselves from voting n

Various Explanations for Limited Participation Political parties are weaker n Opportunity costs n Generational

Various Explanations for Limited Participation Political parties are weaker n Opportunity costs n Generational Change n ¨ Civic n duty has declined Irrational to vote ¨ Very little chance of affecting the outcome of an election n Weather

Demographic Factors and Voter Turnout Graph 2000 Election Exit Polls n http: //www. cnn.

Demographic Factors and Voter Turnout Graph 2000 Election Exit Polls n http: //www. cnn. com/ELECTION/2000/epoll s/US/P 000. html n

Increasing Voter Turnout n How could we increase voter turnout? n Should we increase

Increasing Voter Turnout n How could we increase voter turnout? n Should we increase voter turnout?

Three Puzzles About American Turnout ¨ Why is turnout in national elections lower than

Three Puzzles About American Turnout ¨ Why is turnout in national elections lower than most other democracies? n Institutional factors Why has turnout in the U. S. declined since 1960? ¨ What caused turnout to go up slightly in 1992? And go back down in 1996? ¨ n n Education levels have been rising Registration has become much easier

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