Voter Behavior (6.4)

Non-voter Problems

Size 2000 Presidential Election – million voted/205.8 million eligible voters = 51.2% Do you really have a majority if only half of all eligible voters actually voted? 2008 Presidential Election – million voted/208.3 million eligible voters = 63% Mid-term elections typically have even lower voter turnouts

Size Millions of those that vote for president DO NOT vote in congressional elections – Even bigger problem in state/local elections Higher voter turnout in state elections held the same year as presidential election

Non-voter numbers “Cannot-voters” numbers include: – Non-U.S. citizens – Physically/mentally disabled/ill voters – Traveling voters – Imprisoned voters – Voters that don’t vote based on their religious beliefs

Why do people not vote? Actual non-voters – 2000: 80 million voters that could have voted, but chose not to – Lack of interest – Some do not go b/c they feel their vote makes no impact on the election – Others are satisfied w/current political situation – Growing number distrust current political situation

Why do people not vote? Cumbersome election procedures – Inconvenient registration times – Long lines/ballots “Time zone fallout” – Voters in Eastern/Central time zones vote before Mountain/Western time zones – Many media outlets will declare election winners based on E/C time zones before those in W go vote

Voters vs. non-voters Voters Higher levels of income/education/occupations Integrated into community life Long-time residents Believe voting is important Non-voters Younger than 35, unmarried, unskilled, male Live in the South or rural areas Display general lack of political efficacy – Sense of their own influence on the political process

Activity 1924 – Native Americans granted citizenship 1840 – All white males vote 1961 – D.C. citizens vote 1870 – 15 th Amendment – All men vote 1964 – 24 th Amendment – Prohibited poll tax 1986 – Uniformed/overseas citizens vote absentee 1971 – 26 th Amendment – Voting age est. 18 yrs. old 1920 – 19 th Amendment – All men/women vote 1965 – VRA 1965 What was the most important law? Why?

The Electoral Process

The Nominating Process

Nomination Prime function of political parties 1 reason why U.S. has 2 major PP Voters only have to decide b/w 2 choices

Types of Nominations

Self-Announcement Oldest form of nomination in U.S. Originated in colonial times, continues today in small, rural areas

Self-Announcement George Wallace (1968)Eugene McCarthy (1968)

Self-Announcement John Anderson (1980)Ross Perot (1992, 1996)

The Caucus Group of like-minded people meeting to select candidates they’ll support in an election Used before political parties began to take over the nomination process Still used in some form in New England

The Convention Replaced the caucus method First convention used by Anti-Mason Party (1831) Whig Party used convention later in 1831 Democrats used convention in 1832

Direct Primary Intra-party election to determine party candidates First adopted by WI (1903) – Every state currently uses the primary in some form 2 types: – Closed – Open

Closed primary Party election where only party members can participate – Party membership established by voter registration Used by 27 states & D.C.

Open primary Party election where any qualified voter can participate – Used in 23 states Some states give voter ballot of candidates for both parties (private choice) Other states make voters ask for ballot of party primary they are voting in (public declaration)

Blanket primary Form of open primary All voters receive same ballot of ALL candidates for ALL offices – Voters can vote for whomever they choose WA law still allows for blanket primary

Presidential primary Party election choosing presidential candidates Party elects some/all party delegates for natl. convention