Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will Chapter 7

Voter Participation Factors in Voter turnout—why do Americans vote less than citizens in other democracies? Factors in Voter turnout—why do Americans vote less than citizens in other democracies? Registration requirements Registration requirements “Motor voter” law “Motor voter” law Voter identification laws Voter identification laws © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.2

Should Voters be Required to Carry a Government-Issued Photo ID? Pro: Pro: Voting fraud is widespread and detrimental Voting fraud is widespread and detrimental All citizens will be assisted in getting IDs All citizens will be assisted in getting IDs Con: Con: Poor, elderly, and minorities will be disenfranchised Poor, elderly, and minorities will be disenfranchised Little documentation of voter fraud Little documentation of voter fraud © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.3

Voter Participation Factors in Voter Turnout Factors in Voter Turnout Frequency of elections Frequency of elections Party differences: Two-party versus multi-party system Party differences: Two-party versus multi-party system © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.4

Voter Participation Voters vs. Non-Voters Voters vs. Non-Voters Civic duty vs. apathy and/or alienation Civic duty vs. apathy and/or alienation Age Age Education Education Economic class Economic class © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.5

Conventional Forms of Participation other than Voting Campaign & lobbying activities Campaign & lobbying activities Virtual participation Virtual participation Community activities Community activities © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.6

Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics Protest in the streets Protest in the streets Spontaneous vs. calculated protests Spontaneous vs. calculated protests Tradition of and tolerance for protest vs. disdain for protestors Tradition of and tolerance for protest vs. disdain for protestors © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.7

Unconventional Activism: Social Movements and Protest Politics Varieties of Protest Politics Varieties of Protest Politics Civil Rights Civil Rights Environmental Environmental Pro- and anti-abortion rights Pro- and anti-abortion rights © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.8

Participation and Potential for Influence Individualism diminishes political participation Individualism diminishes political participation Political (public) vs. economic (private) spheres Political (public) vs. economic (private) spheres Socioeconomic level affects participation Socioeconomic level affects participation © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.9