American Government and Organization

1. American Government and Organization PS1301 Monday, 3 May

2. Increase Convenience, Reduce Costs Liberalize Absentee Laws Vote only by Mail Same day registration Compulsory voting (increase costs of not voting) Increase Voting Efficacy – make people feel better about voting Term limits Change Electoral System (to PR) Types of Reforms

3. Intended Consequences • Increase overall turnout • Reduce inequalities • Improve efficacy • Enhance legitimacy

4. Voting by Mail • Oregon • Already high proportion of absentee voting • Makes voting more convenient • Does it increase turnout? • Sometimes – (in low saliency elections) • Among which groups does it increase turnout? • What is likely effect of Internet voting?

5. Comparing Turnout in Vote only by Mail and Polling Place Elections (1986-2000)

6. Registration Requirements

7. Other registration requirements • Must be resident of state in which you register (sometime municipality) • E.g. Utah requires must be a resident for 30 days prior to election • Texas requirements • Must be resident of co. in which apply for registration • Must be 17 and 10 months to register and 18 to vote • Must not be finally convicted of a felony. May register if pardoned, after discharge from correction institution, or after period of probation.

8. Registration Requirements and Turnout • Registration seen as a barrier to higher turnout; Reforms intended to relax registration requirements • National Voter Registration Act, 1993 (Motor Voter Bill) • mandating states to offer on- the-spot voter registration at various government agencies • Same Day Registration • The six states with same-day registration (MN, ME, WI, ID, NH, WY) in general have higher levels of turnout • If campaign becomes close/interesting in final 30 days, citizens do not have chance to register • But concern about voter fraud

10. Compulsory Voting • Examples of Countries: • Australia (1924) • Greece • Belgium (1892) • Luxembourg • Mexico • Netherlands (1917-1967) • Belgium and Australia have strict enforcement, Mexico and Greece weak

11. Impact of Compulsory Voting on Turnout in Australia

12. Sanctions for non-voting in compulsory voting countries • The numbers listed in the column for Type of Sanction stands for different types of sanctions. These are as follows: • 1. Explanation. The non-voter has to provide a legitimate reason for his/her abstention to avoid further sanctions, if any exist. • 2. Fine. The amount varies between the countries, for example 3 Swiss Francs in Swtzerland, between 300 and 3 000 ATS in Austria, • 3. Possible imprisonment. The non-voter may face imprisonment as a sanction, however, we do not know of any documented cases. This can also happen in countries such as Australia where a fine sanction is common. • 4. Infringements of civil rights or disenfranchisement. It is for example possible that the non-voter, after not voting in at least four elections within 15 years will be disenfranchised in Belgium. In Bolivia the voter is given a card when he/she has voted so that he/she can proof the participation. The voter would not be able to receive his/her salary from the bank if he/she can not show the proof of voting during three months after the election. • 5. Other. For example in Belgium it might be difficult getting a job within the public sector if you are non-voter, or difficulties obtaining a new passport or driver's license in Greece. There are no formal sanctions Mexico or Italy but possible arbitrary or social sanctions. This is called the "innocuous sanction" in Italy, where it might for example be difficult to get a daycare place for your child or similar but this is not formalised in any way at all.

13. Turnout Before and After Electoral System Change in New Zealand First PR Election Referendum on the Electoral System