(10.3/10.4) Voting Trends / Voting Process U.S. Government and Politics

Essential question for this unit What is the role of the people in Government? * This unit is about the Linkage Institutions

Review Right to Vote History of the Vote (Watch video if you missed it) Universal criteria citizenship, residence and age MN voting eligibility requirements Registration process controversies

Voting as a responsibility Voting is one of the ways individuals can affect public policy. Elected officials make decisions every day that affect your life! By doing so they are fulfilling one of the most important responsibilities of citizenship! Voting gives you a voice!

Voter Turnout Issues in United States Presidential Elections vs. Off-year elections Pres. Election Day 2016 = 58.5 % voted (Mn 74.2%!) Estimated ballots counted = 135, 557, 845 Voting eligible population = 231, 556, 622 Pres. Election Day 2012 = 56.5 % voted more than 102 million voting eligible persons not participating Election Day 2010 = 42% off-year elections = congressional elections held in the even-numbered years between elections

2018 Midterms relatively high. Why?

This graph is based on the U. S. population aged 18 and over This graph is based on the U.S. population aged 18 and over. What can you conclude about voter turnout in presidential as opposed to off-year elections from this graph?

Where does Minnesota rank?

Voter Turnout Issues in United States Another reason for nonvoter issues ballot fatigue = the farther down the ballot an office is, the fewer the number of votes that will be cast for it Mandatory voting?! Should you be forced to vote (video) What do you think? What do other countries think? (article)

Why people do not vote Article: Why is voter turnout so low in the U.S.? Why are there so many non-voters? Why, even in a presidential election, is there only half the population participating? In your opinion, what do you think are the biggest reasons citizens do not vote?

Why people do not vote Possible reasons (tends to be a combo of factors) cannot vote: ex. resident aliens actual nonvoters: various reasons such as no sense of political efficacy = feeling that you can/cannot influence politics Time-Zone Fallout and Other Factors: cumbersome election procedures, such as long lines at polling places Comparing Voters and Nonvoters: profiles of each

Influences on voters and voting behavior How do those who do vote behave? What prompts many to vote most often for Republicans and many others to support the Democratic Party? Studying voter behavior political socialization = the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions Influences = family, school, peer group, and mass media. Video - political socialization

Political Socialization

Rock the Vote is a nonpartisan organization that uses music, popular culture, and technology to engage young people and involve them in the political process.

Sociological factors and political attitudes Using data from past elections, you can draw conclusions of the American voter in terms of a number of sociological factors. Do not make too much of any one of these factors. Each voter tends to posses more than one. These are tendencies... Income and Occupation: low income/Democrat, high income/Republicans Education: low and highly educated, Democrat; middle - Republican Gender, Age: women & younger voters/Democrat; male Republican Religion, Ethnic Background: Catholics & Jews & AfricanAmer & Latinos / Democrat Geography: South+Plains/Republican: New Engl, Cal./Democrat Population Shifts: rural /Republicans, urban/ Democrats, suburbs swing Family and Other Groups: voting similar to your relationships

This exit poll categorizes voters based on income and education This exit poll categorizes voters based on income and education. According to the text, did the actual vote reflect this preliminary data? Explain.

Psychological factors and political attitudes There are factors beyond sociological impacting a person’s attitudes. You must also take into account a number of psychological factors. That is, you must look at the voters’ perceptions of politics: how they see and react to the parties, the candidates, and the issues in an election. Party Identification: loyalty of people to a particular political party (straight-ticket voting vs split ticket). Large groups of independents now. Candidates and Issues: the impression a candidate makes on the voters during the campaign

Family is a big factor in how a person tends to vote Family is a big factor in how a person tends to vote. Statistics show that this baby will likely vote Democratic upon turning 18.

Elections and Democracy Administration of elections in the U.S. Democratic government cannot hope to succeed unless elections are free, honest and accurately reported. Remember: voting is one of the most effective processes used by people to affect public policy.

Elections and Democracy Administration of elections in the U.S. The administration of elections is effective and crucial to government success. Extent of federal control Help America Vote Act State elections Increase in early voting (absentee voting - process by which citizens could vote without going to their polling places on election day)

The Voting Process Most election law in the U.S. is state not federal law. Example of Congress expanding federal election law Help America Vote Act of 2002 - is a federal program that reformed aspects of the United States election system after the 2000 election issues (Bush vs. Gore) - ballot and registration issues. Major provisions included things such as Replacing lever-operated voting devices Upgrade administration of elections thru better training of staff Centralize and computerize the voter registration system

The Voting Process Precincts, Polling Places and Ballots A precinct = a voting district. Where do I vote? (link) A polling place—the place where the voters actually vote in/near a precinct. Types of ballots Casting and counting ballots, recounts

A Maryland voter casts her ballot ten days before election day A Maryland voter casts her ballot ten days before election day. By 2013, thirty-two States allowed early voting, some as much as six weeks early.

Sample Ballots

Conclusions / Takeaways Quick write and report out: Give a summary of the voting process and trends in the U.S.