Political Participation

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

1. VOTER TURNOUT: THE ALLEGED PROBLEM a. LOW VOTER TURNOUT IN THE U.S. i. AMERICAN DO NOT TURN OUT TO VOTE WHEN COMPARED TO EUROPEAN NATIONS. ii. EXAMPLES (JUST SELECTED NATIONS) 1. BELGIUM-83.2% 2. AUSTRALIA-81.8% 3. GERMANY-75.3 4. JAPAN-59% 5. U.S.-47.1% 6. SOURCE – (WILSON, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, PG 132) b. THE REALITY i. COMPARISON IS MISLEADING. NUMBERS ARE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF VOTERS OUT OF ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS. ii. IN EUROPE VOTERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED AND FINES ARE IMPOSED IN SOME COUNTRIES IF PEOPLE DO NOT VOTE. SO VOTER TURNOUT IS HIGH. (HIGH NUMBERS OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS TURNOUT). iii. IN THE U.S. REGISTRATION IS NOT AUTOMATIC. SO NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IS LESS. SO VOTER TURNOUT IS LOW WHEN YOU COMPARE TO TOTAL ELGIBLE VOTERS (18 AND OLDER) HOWEVER COMPARABLE TO EUROPEAN NUMBERS WHEN YOU COMPARE VOTER TURNOUT AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS. 1. VOTER TURNOUT WHEN ONLY REGISTERED VOTERS IS COUNTED FOR THE U.S. IS AROUND 63%. a. STILL ON THE LOWER THAN EUROPEAN NATIONS. b. 2. CAUSES OF THE LOW VOTER TURNOUT IN THE U.S. a. APATHY i. NOT CARING ENOUGH TO VOTE OR REGISTER TO VOTE. b. REGISTRATION COSTS i. NUMBER ONE DETERMINING FACTOR IN DETERMINING IF SOMEONE VOTES OR NOT. ii. COSTS 1. TIME 2. EFFORT 3. GAS, ETC. 4. IN MOST OF EUROPE REGISTRATION COSTS ARE SMALL-AUTOMATICALLY DONE.

3. SOLUTIONS a. MAIL-IN REGISTRATION i. FOR REGISTRATION RENEWAL. ii. REPRESENTS AROUND 31% OF REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS. b. GET-OUT-THE VOTE DRIVES i. PROMOTE VOTING AND TRY TO TAKE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS TO THE VOTER. c. MOTOR VOTER LAWS i. ALLOW ELIGBLE VOTERS TO REGISTER WHEN THE APPLY FOR A DRIVER’S LICENSE. ii. REPTRESENTS 38% OF APPLICATIONS. 4. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION a. WAYS TO PARTICIPATE i. VOTING 1. NUMBER WAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE U.S. 2. ELECTIONS ARE MORE FREQUENT THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES. ii. JOINING CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS 1. POLITICAL PARTIES 2. CHARITABLE AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. iii. LOBBYING AND WRITING LAWMAKERS iv. DEMONSTRATING AND PROTESTING b. IMPORTANCE IN VARIETY i. VARIETY MEANS THAT VOTING IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO PARTICIPATE. ii. IMPACT ON VOTER TURNOUT 1. VARIETY OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION MEANS THAT VOTER TURNOUT MAYBE LOWER. 2. FREQUENCY OF ELECTIONS CAN LOWER VOTER TURNOUT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER NATIONS. a. SOME NATIONS DO NOT HAVE FREQUENT ELECTIONS, SO THE ELECTIONS THAT ARE HEL ARE MAJOR SOCIAL AND POLITCAL EVENTS COMPARED TO THE U.S. 3. SATISFACTION WITH SOCIETY IN GENERAL CAN LOWER VOTER TURNOUT. a. THIS IS AN ARGUMENT THAT A HAPPY, HEALTHY SOCIETY WILL NOT VOTE BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW CAUSES OF DISSATISFACTION.

5. THE RISE OF THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE a. WHO DECIDES WHO VOTES? i. RESERVED POWER 1. THE STATES DECIDE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. THE CONSTITUTION IS SILENT ON THE ISSUE. (IT IS NOT DELEGATED OR IMPLIED TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OR DENIED.) 2. MEANT LARGE VARIATION IN WHO COULD VOTE IN THE U.S. a. SOME STATES ALLOWED WOMEN, SOME DID NOT, ETC. b. DIFFERENT AGES ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. 3. MEANS IN ORDER TO PROTECT SOME GROUPS RIGHT TO VOTE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS HAD TO BE ADDED. A LAW PASSED BY CONGESS WAS NOT ENOUGH. b. THE EXTENSION OF SUFFRAGE i. SUFFRAGE 1. THE RIGHT TO VOTE ii. 15TH AMENDMENT (1870) 1. EXTENDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO AFRICAN- AMERICANS AND SLAVES. a. “THE RIGHT TO VOTE… SHALL NOT BE DENIED… BY THE U.S. OR BY ANY STATE ON ACCOUNT OF RACE, COLOR, OR PREVIOUS CONDITION OF SERVITUDE. b. GUTTED BY SUPREME COURT UNTIL 20TH CENTURY i. OPENED DOOR TO DISCRIMINATION NOT EXPLICITLY BASED ON RACE UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY iii. 19TH AMENDMENT (1920) 1. EXTENDED THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO WOMEN 2. DOUBLE THE VOTING POPULATION. 3. GENDER GAP a. THE TREND AMONG WOMEN TO VOTE FOR THE MORE LIBERAL CANDIDATES. b. TODAY A MAJOR ISSUE IN POLITICS. iv. 23RD AMENDMENT (1961) 1. ALLOWED D.C. RESIDENTS TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 2. D.C. HAS THREE ELECTORAL VOTES IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE (MINIMUM REQUIRED). 3. TODAY D.C. RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS. a. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION?

v. VOTING RIGHTS ACT (1970) 1. EXTENDED THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO 18-20 YEAR OLDS IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND REQUIRED STATES TO DO THE SAME. IN 1972 ONLY 4 STATES ALLOWED 18-20 YEAR OLDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE. a. WHY? i. VIETNAM WAR ARGUMENT 1. IF 18-20 YEAR OLDS COULD DIE IN A WAR THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THE DECISION MAKERS. b. UNCONSTITUIONAL i. B/C FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE VOTING ELIGIBLILTY. vi. 26TH AMENDMENT (1971) 1. EXTENDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO 18-20 YEAR OLDS. 2. HAD TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION B/C VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1970 WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. c. RESTRICTIONS ON AFRICA-AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS (AS WELL AS OTHER MINORITIES) i. NOTICE THESE TESTS DO NOT BLATANTLY VIOLATE THE 15TH AMENDMENT. B/C THESE LAWS DO NOT DISCRIMINATE EXPLICITLY BY RACE ii. LITERACY TESTS 1. HAD TO PASS A GOVERNMENT LITERACY TEST TO VOTE. 2. DISCRIMINATES BASED ON EDUCATION. a. HOWEVER SINCE MOST SLAVES COULD NOT READ OR WRITE THEN MOST COULD NOT PASS THE LITERACY TEST. b. ALSO IMPACTED ILLITERATE WHITES. 3. CAN STILL DISCRIMINATE BASED ON EDUCATION BUT ONLY IF THEY HAVE LESS THEN A MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION. iii. POLL TAXES 1. IN ORDER TO VOTE HAD TO PAY A TAX. 2. DISCRIMINATES BASED ON FINANCES. a. SINCE FORMER SLAVES WERE POOR THIS IMPACTED THEM GREATLY. b. AS WELL AS POOR WHITES. 3. 24TH AMENDMENT OUTLAWS POLL TAXES. iv. WHITE PRIMARIES 1. ONLY WHITE VOTERS COULD CHOSE CANDIDATES.

v. GRANDFATHER CLAUSE 1. IF YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS INELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN 1867 (MEANING HE WAS A SLAVE) THEN YOU ARE INELIGIBLE TO VOTE. 2. WAY TO ALLOW MORE WHITES TO VOTE, WHO COULD PAY THE POLL TAX OR PASS THE LITERACY TEST. vi. HARRASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION 1. KKK 2. THE WHITE KNIGHTS vii. VOTING RIGHTS ACT 1965 1. PRODUCT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVMENT 2. PROVISIONS a. ENDED LITERACY TESTS. b. APPOINTED FEDERAL EXAMINERS TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS AND VOTING REGISTRAITON IN STATES WITH A HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION. (IE THE SOUTH). 3. RESULTS a. TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN BLACK VOTING TURNOUT IN THE SOUTH. b. INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS. i. ESPECIALLY LOCAL OFFICIALS. ii. NOT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. 6. VOTING TURNOUT OF THE ELECTORATE a. CONGRESSIONAL VS. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS i. VOTERS TURNOUT WILL ALWAYS BE HIGHER FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 1. TURNOUT WILL BE BETWEEN 50-60% IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2. CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS TURNOUT WILL BE BETWEEN 20-30%. ii. WHY? 1. MEDIA COVERAGE a. PRESIDENTIAL RACE DOMINATE MEDIA FOR MONTHS. 2. CELEBRITY AND NAME RECOGNITION. 3. MONEY a. MORE MONEY IS SPENT ADVERTISING. 4. VOTERS CONSIDER IT MORE IMPORTANT b. PATTERNS (FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS) i. SINCE 1932 50-60% ii. 1860-1900S- 70-90% iii. REASONS FOR THE DECLINE IN VOTER TURNOUT 1. WEAKER PARTY ORGANIZATION

a. POLITICAL PARTIES ARE NOT AS STONG AS THEY USED TO BE. i. POLITICAL MACHINES 1. WIN ELECTIONS THROUGH CORRUPTION, STRONG-ARM TACTICS, ETC. 2. ABLE TO MOBILIZE MASSES TO VOTE. b. RISE OF INDEPENDENTS i. MORE AND MORE VOTERS ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ONE OF THE TWO PARTIES. ii. ROUGHLY 25-35% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS. iii. MODERN POLITICAL PARTIES ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AT MOBILIZING VOTERS. c. INCREASE IN EXTERNAL EFFICACY AND MISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT? 2. ARE THE NUMBERS AN ILLUSION? a. ARE THE NUMBERS COMPARING THE TWO ERAS MISLEADING? SOME WOULD SAY YES. THE EARLIER NUMBER ARE INFLATED. i. CORRUPTION 1. THE 19TH CENTURY FULL OF POLTICAL CORRUPTION AND ELECTION FRAUD. a. STUFFING THE BALLOT BOX. b. PEOPLE VOTING TWICE i. WEST VIRGINIA (1888) 147,408 ELIGIBLE VOTERS YET 159,440 VOTES CAST FOR A VOTER TURNOUT OF 108%. b. WHY THE DROP OFF? i. THE GOVERNMENT ENDED THE CORRUPTION THAT INFLATED THE NUMBERS. 1. AUSTRALIAN BALLOT a. GOVERNMENT PRINTED BALLOT, UNIFROM SIZE, SHAPE AND COLOR

THAT IS CAST IN SECRET. b. BEFORE PARTIES PRINTED THEIR OWN BALLOTS (EASIER TO RIG ELECTIONS). 2. STRICTER VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS INSTITUTED. a. RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS i. CANNOT VOTE UNLESS YOU PROVE YOU HAVE LIVED IN THAT AREA FOR A CERTAIN TIME. c. WHAT MAKES PEOPLE VOTE? i. REDUCING THE COSTS OF REGISTRATION 1. THE LOWER THE COSTS THE HIGHER THE TURNOUT. 2. COMPULSORY VOTING a. NOT IN U.S. ii. IMPORTANCE OF ELECTION 1. TURNOUT IS HIGHER WHEN ELECTION IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT a. MEDIA COVERAGE b. PRESIDENTIAL VS. CONGRESSIONAL c. THE ISSUES d. WHO VOTES? (VOTERS VS. NON-VOTERS) i. EDUCATION 1. NUMBER ONE FACTOR 2. HIGHER EDUCATION MORE LIKELY TO VOTE a. UNDERSTAND PROCESS AND IMPORTANCE BETTER. b. NOT SCARED OF THE PROCESS. c. HIGHER SENSE OF POLITICAL EFFICACY ii. AGE 1. OLDER MORE LIKELY TO VOTE. a. 1996 ONLY 32% OF THOSE UNDER 25 VOTED. b. OLDER YOU ARE MORE TIED TO THE COMMUNITY. PAY TAXES, HAVE CHILDREN, LOOK TOWARD COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, ETC. iii. RACE AND ETHNICITY 1. MINORITIES DO NOT VOTE AS OFTEN AS WHITES.

2. EXCEPTION IF MINORITY IS HIGHLY EDUCATED WILL VOTE MORE OFTEN THEN COMPARABLY EDUCATED WHITE VOTER. a. UNDERSTAND ISSUES BETTER AND UNDERSTANDS PAST DISCRIMINATION. iv. GENDER 1. WOMEN VOTE SLIGHTLY MORE OFTEN THEN MEN. 2. MAKES THE GENDER GAP MORE IMPORTANT. v. MARITAL STATUS 1. MORE LIKELY TO VOTE IF MARRIED. 2. MORE TIED DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS, CHILDEN, OWN A HOME, ETC. vi. MOBILITY 1. MORE LIKELY TO VOTE IF YOU HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME PLACE FOR A WHILE. 2. MORE TIED DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY. 3. IF HIGHLY MOBILE (MOVE EVERY YEAR OR TWO) THEN WHY VOTE? SINCE YOU WILL BE MOVING TO A NEW PLACE. a. ALSO HAVE TO REGISTER IN EACH PLACE. i. PEOPLE WHO MOVE HAVE A HIGHER COST OF REGISTERING TO VOTE SINCE THEY HAVE TO REGISTER EACH TIME. vii. RELIGION 1. THE MORE RELIGIOUS ONE IS THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO VOTE. 2. TIED DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY AND ACTIVE IN THE CHURCH. viii. UNION MEMBERSHIP 1. BELONG TO A UNION MORE LIKELY TO VOTE. 2. ACTIVE IN A POLITCAL GROUP. ix. INCOME 1. WEALTHIER ONE IS THE MORE LIKELY ONE IS TO VOTE. 2. HIGHER SENSE OF POLITICAL EFFICACY. 3. MORE LIKELY HIGHLY EDUCATED. 4. CAN AFFORD TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK TO VOTE. x. NON-VOTERS 1. TEND TO BE POOR, LOWER EDUCATED, MINORITY MEN. (CAN BE WHITE TOO)

e. CONSEQUENCES FOR THE U.S. i. AGE 1. AS THE POPULATION GETS OLDER AND OLDER POLICIES AND LEADERS WILL LISTEN TO OLDER VOTES. a. FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF POPULATION IS THOSE OVER 75. b. HIGHER TURNOUT. i. ISSUES ARE LIFE OR DEATH TO ELDERLY 1. MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 2. YOUNGER PEOPLE DO NOT VOTE. a. MATURITY b. EDUCATION LEVELS c. ISSUES NOT LIFE OR DEATH i. EXCEPT WARS AND DRAFTS. ii. RACE AND ETHINCITY 1. HOW WILL THE GROWING NUMBERS OF HISPANICS (AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS FOR THAT MATTER) IMPACT VOTER TURNOUT? a. TEND TO LESS EDUCATED, POOR, SCARED OF THE PROCESS B/C OF THE LANGAUGE PROBLEMS. 7. EXPLAINING VOTER DECISIONS a. PARTY IDENTIFICATION (WILL TALK ABOUT LATER) i. PEOPLE DO NOT IDENTIFIY THEMSELVES AS A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN AS MUCH ANY MORE. PARTY ID IS DROPPING. ii. INCREASING NUMBERS OF INDEPENDENTS WHO VOTE FOR EITHER PARTY. b. POLITICAL IDEOLOGY (SEE PREVIOUS NOTES) i. THE AMERICAN VOTER c. DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AND TICKET SPLITTING i. TICKET SPLITTING 1. VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. 2. PATTERN IN MODERN POLITICS a. WHY? i. PARTYID DROPPING ii. RISE IN INDEPENDENTS iii. MISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND POLTICAL PARTIES? iv. WEAKER POLTICAL PARTIES CANNOT HOLD OF TO VOTERS.

ii. DIVIDED GOVERNMENT 1. RESULT OF TICKET-SPLITTING 2. MODERN POLITICAL TREND THAT ONE PARTY CONTROLS CONGRESS AND ONE PARTY CONTROLS THE PRESIDENCY. d. IDEOLOGY i. THE FACTORS THAT IMPACT IDEOLOGY. e. WEAK PARTY ORGANIZATION i. MORE AND MORE VOTERS INDEPENDENT. f. RETROSPECTIVE VS. PROSPECTIVE VOTING i. RETROPSECTIVE 1. VOTE ACCORDING PAST POLICY STANCES AND ACTIONS OF THE LEADERS. 2. MOST PEOPLE DO. ii. PROSPECTIVE 1. VOTE ACCORDING TO HOW ISSUES AND POLICY STANCES WILL IMPACT YOU IN THE FUTURE. a. GROUP BENEFIT VOTERS AND NATURE OF THE TIME VOTERS. 2. HARD TO DO, HAVE TO VERY EDUCATED AND INTERESTED IN POLITICS. a. IDEOLGUES PRACTICE THIS AND SOME GROUP BENEFIT VOTERS.