Why People vote Suffering through Suffrage

Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives Analyze the theories of why people vote and apply them to the 2008 and 2010 Election. Identify and describe the formal and informal institutions involved in the electoral process

What is suffrage? The Right To Vote Why we have expanded suffrage historically – For Good – For Gain!

SOME NATIONS LOVE TO VOTE Voting in a Comparative Perspective

Why so high elsewhere? Compulsory voting Fewer Elections PR systems and MMD

Why Turnout Should Be High in the USA Easier To Register Enfranchisement of the South A National two-party system A better-educated population

Despite this, fewer Americans Vote! We call the Paradox of Participation

Some Say Many of Actually Do Vote Voting Age Population- those who voted/those who are 18- we have too much Democracy! Voting eligible population- those who voted/those who registered There is a differencedifference

Who votes in America?

Age and Voting Older People vote more Why Curvilinear relationship!

Education and Voting This is a linear relationship Why do better educated people vote more The lack of political skills

Education and Age in 2008

Income and Voting Wealthy people vote at higher Rates Related to education Lower Information Costs

Campaign Interest Linked to Education

Partisanship Strong Partisans more than independents

Turnout in 2004 Higher than 2000, which was supposed to favor Democrats Why Higher Turnout Who it helped?

Voter Turnout in Million voted, 61% which was the highest rate since 1968 Where was turnout up? – Best States – Worst States

People expected more Voters Only slightly higher than year olds did not increase greatly Why No increase?

NON VOTING

Why Americans Don’t Vote Institutional Factors Demographic Factors Behavioral Factors

Why People Don’t Vote: Institutions

Registration Registration is a large restriction on voting States control this power States Once you register, you are more likely to vote

Other Institutional Barriers Restrictions on suffrage Electoral Competition

Why People Don’t Vote Demographics

Why Young People Don’t Vote Are Unfamiliar with the system- Are one step above Gypsies Have less formal and political education

Classic Demographics Race Gender Region

Low Turnout Because of Behavioral Factors

Low Social Capital Writings of Robert Putnam We are not connected to the community As a Result, we don’t participate in politics

Low turnout because of partisanship Fewer People Identify with one of the parties Increasingly difficult to target voters Partisan districts depress turnout

HIGH AND LOW STIMULUS ELECTIONS The Saw-tooth Pattern

Presidential elections Why Higher What is the Result- the exciting saw-tooth pattern

Midyear Tends to be boring