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Chapter 8: Political Participation

Chapter 8: Political Participation. Voting Nonvoting Methods of Participation. Political Participation. Various ways in which people take part in politics and government: Voting Party affiliation Donating money to campaigns Keeping informed of issues Debating/Discussing issues

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Chapter 8: Political Participation

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  1. Chapter 8: Political Participation Voting Nonvoting Methods of Participation

  2. Political Participation • Various ways in which people take part in politics and government: • Voting • Party affiliation • Donating money to campaigns • Keeping informed of issues • Debating/Discussing issues • Protesting • Contacting local officials

  3. Nonvoting • VAP (Voting Age Population - Citizens18 years of age • VEP (Voting Eligible Population) - Citizens 18 years of age - EXCLUDES those who are legally not allowed to vote - convicted felons, noncitizens 2008 VAP = 231 million, voter turnout 56.8% 2008 VEP = 213 million, voter turnout 61.7% Presidential election voter turnout = roughly 50% (just under)

  4. Nonvoting • In partners, analyze the data charts focusing on nonvoters. • Evaluate and develop 1 CUMMULATIVE observation for each section of nonvoter data • SHARE OUT/Discuss!

  5. Nonvoting Trends Percent Registered/Voted PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION • Ages 18 – 20 register and vote the LEAST • Lower levels of education and low income vote the LEAST

  6. Nonvoting TrendsWHYYYY??! Three-Quarters (75%) of nonvoters said….. - Busy - Scheduling conflicts (work/school) 12% of nonvoters said… - Family chores/obligations 12% of nonvoters said… - Believe their vote wouldn’t make a difference

  7. Attempts to Increase Voting • Poll booth times (early AM – late PM) • Mail in ballots (day prior) • Absentee ballot • Motor-voter law : allow voters to register upon receiving driver’s license • Same day registration • GOTV (Get-Out-the-Vote)Drive • door-to –door visits, phone calls = most effective • leaflets, email, mail, radio ads

  8. Attempts to Increase Voting ** Although the number of registered voters has gone up significantly since the motor-voter law, voter turnout has NOT increased! Even “social pressure”/media/celebrity influence…. 62% of pressured nonvoters DID NOT vote in 2008

  9. Decline of U.S. Voter Turnout Since 1960, voter turnout has declined in EVERY presidential election. • WHY?! • Each student will be assigned a reading section of Richard W. Boyd (Wesleyan University) * READ and HIGHLIGHT/IDENTIFY the reasons along with a brief explanation of each

  10. Decline of U.S. Voter Turnout Warm-Up: What were the various reasons and explanations from the article? 1. ** CHANGING BIRTH RATES Postwar baby boom = largest voting group currently 2. ** CHANGING AGE DISTRIBUTION 26th amendment = young voters (nonvoters) 3. ** COMPLEX ELECTIONS There are too many elections for Americans to partake in 4.** SCHEDULED ELECTIONS Staggered elections = requires more attention of voters 5.** PRIMARIES Requires affiliation, is one more election, requires attention of voters

  11. Voting Analyze the 2012 presidential election exit poll and develop voting trend observations 2012 EXIT POLL DATA

  12. Voting

  13. Voting Trends

  14. Voting Trends

  15. Voting Trends • Ages 65+ register and vote the MOST • Higher educated vote the MOST • Higher incomes vote the MOST

  16. Voting Trends

  17. Voting Trends

  18. Voting Trends Gap between voter turnout in presidential elections and midterm elections • “Staggered” schedule of midterm elections v. general election ** general election =1 day of voting (easier) • Structure of voter impact ** general election = reelection or new president (easy to understand) ** midterm election = new/partial congress (confusing and lack of feeling a difference) • More campaigning & high profile in general election • More value in presidential election ** lack of confidence in congressional leaders • Electoral college v. midterm popular vote ** pressure that every vote counts = influential?

  19. Barriers to Voting(historical) • Literacy Tests - illiterate and uneducated kept from voting - former slaves were uneducated • Poll Taxes - poor persons were kept from voting - former slaves were poor • Grandfather Clause - voting allowed for those whose grandfather was able to vote prior to 1867 - allowed poor whites to vote • White Primary - kept blacks from voting in the state primaries (in the south)

  20. Barriers to Voting(current) • Voting Rights Act 1965 - 2013 S.C. ruling in which the federal government NO LONGER has to approve state voting laws • Demographics - areas of poverty and lack of resources Do you think that state voting regulations, such as voter ID laws, negatively impact the eldery, poor, and uneducated?

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