Voter Trends EQ: How does data on voter trends affect the parties’ platforms?

Last class Lions and Bears as ruling parties still need other animal voters. The major parties must govern and deliver policy that the other animals like if they hope to stay in power.

Voter trends How do people decide to vote?

FYI democratic = form of government in which power rests with the people republic = form of government in which people elect representatives So we have a democratic republic (not a true direct democracy) Democrat = political party Republican = political party CAPITALS MATTER!

Political Socialization Process through which an individual acquires his particular political orientations Family Mass media School Lifelong process Informal process, over time

Ideology and Party Ideology – coherent belief system Party – organization to win elections So parties have platforms that may change and compromise.

Party Generalizations Democrats Republicans Pro choice Against death penalty Want more gun control legislation Marriage equality* Favor more programs that provide benefits and services Pro life Pro death penalty* Gun rights Traditional/conservative Focus on protection (defense spending and police power)

Patterns/generalizations Voter Trends Patterns/generalizations

Look at data Group Likelihood of voting and possible explanation Political leanings Women A little more likely to vote, 52-54%. Democrat, in the 50s%. Men A little less likely to vote, 46-48%. Republican, in the 50s% Leave 2-3 lines for each, where we will put our possible explanations for the trend. Groups:

Groups for your chart Under 30 30-44 45-64 60 and over White Black Hispanic East West South Liberal Conservative Under $15k $15k-29k $30k-49k $50k-75k Over $75k No high school degree High School grad College grad Postgraduate Christian Jewish Catholic

LO 1.1 To Learning Objectives Linked with apathy, knowledge. If for previous chart you said that young people don’t believe politics is relevant… how would they know? Americans know very little about their government and politics compared to other countries To Learning Objectives

LO 7.2 To Learning Objectives Table 7.1 The Top 25 Lycos Searches for the Week of the First 2008 Presidential Debate To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

LO 1.1 To Learning Objectives Apathy -> not voting Democracy is about bribing: votes for policy… no wonder young people may think the gov’t doesn’t look out for them The graying of America: more older folks, and more likely to vote, significant voting bloc Discuss peaks and valleys – drop in midterm election voter turnout To Learning Objectives

LO 8.5 To Learning Objectives Income: more money does mean more participation, lower income favors blue, but higher income is not the exact opposite, only favors red a little Gender: males split, women favor blue (contributes to conclusion from table 6) – “Gender Gap” African American: super Blue (around 90% in any election go to Dems) Hispanic: favor blue * Mexicans more blue than Cubans White ethic/religious Groups: Jewish and Catholics favor blue Evangelical/protestant: favor red So with so many groups favoring blue, why are elections so close? Voter turnout Gerrymandering Long lines and other types of voter suppression $ towards campaigns To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

What keeps people from voting? Long lines Lack of information Apathy or frustration Registration requirements Too busy Short windows for voting Photo ID requirements

Create a Citizen Roll the dice to make your citizen Look at the data Determine how likely you are to vote Determine your likely party affiliation (and to what degree)

Summary Answer the question of the day