III. Influence on Voters

Objective Students will understand the different factors that influence the way people vote in our countries elections.

A. Political Spectrum Liberal – Left of the political spectrum – radical Conservative – Right of political spectrum – Status Quo Moderate – Center of political spectrum

Left or Right?

Left or Right?

Left or Right?

Left or Right?

B. Party Loyalty Most American register as Republicans or Democrats and vote for their party’s candidates Majority of young people register for the party their parents belong to – 85%

Straight Party Ticket – Voters select candidates of their political party Recent years have seen a decline in voter loyalty Split Ticket – Vote for members of each party on same ballot Independent Voters/Non-Partisan – Undecided voter who make up an important 5%-15% of the population – Number has been increasing in recent years

Do you think people are generally well informed about what they are voting for? Better or worse than past years?

C. Election Issues Many voters are not well-informed on issues But, we are better informed today than ever before 1) T.V. – News media covers every aspect of the election 2) More of the public is educated 3) Current issues seem to have a greater impact on our personal lives than ever before

D. Candidate’s Image “Image is everything” Many people vote for president on image alone Gallup Polls – Rank J.F.K. as a top U.S. president for His popularity is based on his image and not his accomplishments

Vote or Die?

Swiftboat Video

E. Profile of Regular Voters Have positive attitude about government Have received more education Middle-aged citizens have highest percentage Age least likely to vote People with increased incomes tend to vote more

F. Decline in Participation 1960 – 62% of Americans voted 1996 – 49% of Americans voted 2004 – Number of nonvoters was over 100 million Americans

How We Compare % of people who voted 2004 Election Italy – 94% Austria – 90% Netherlands 85% Norway 82% Finland 73% United States – 51%

Why? Austria and Norway fine people who do not vote Italy – Prints the names of people who did not vote in local newspapers Sound like a good idea?

G. Ways to Improve Voter Turnout Move elections from Tuesday to Sunday Let people vote over the Internet or by mail Have a national registration where people would not have to re-register every time they move