AP – Political participation

Enduring questions 1. What role did the framers of the Constitution believe average citizens should play in America’s representative democracy? 2. Who votes, who doesn’t, and why? 3. Why do some people participate in politics at higher rates than others? 4. How, if at all, do differences in political participation affect what government actually does?

Some embarrassing trends Low voting turnout About ½ of the people vote in presidential elections – this figure is lower in off-year (congressional) elections This compares to an average turnout in European elections of 80%!

Low voter turnout Many observers blame this low turnout on voter apathy and urge the government and private groups to mount campaigns to “get out the vote.” There are three things wrong with this view: –1. It is a misleading description of the problem –2. It is an incorrect explanation of the problem –3. It proposes a remedy that will not work

A closer look at nonvoting In the U.S. only 2/3 of the voting-age population is registered to vote – this places us below most countries in Europe But, among registered voters the U.S. has an 87% turn out at the polls – this places us in the middle of European percentages of participation

A closer look at nonvoting Apathy on election day is not the problem – of those who are registered, the overwhelming majority vote The real source of the problem is the relatively low percentage of the adult population that is registered to vote

A closer look at nonvoting Mounting a get out the vote drive would not make much of a difference. What might make a difference would be a plan that would get more people to register to vote. In 1993 Congress passed the Motor Voter Law, which required states to allow people to register to vote when applying for drivers licenses and to provide registration through the mail. Other states could register voters at welfare offices. The law took effect in 1995 and in two months registered 630,000 voters in 27 states.

Motor Voter Law The results are mixed In 1996 only 49% of eligible voters went to the polls In South Dakota, where voters are not required to register, voter turnout was only 56% In 1998 only 17.6% of the voters turned out for primary elections – a record low – 36.1% turned out for the midterm congressional elections It has increased voter registration

Motor Voter Law Opposed by 90% of congressional Republicans Supported by 95% of congressional Democrats Has not changed the two-party balance of politics, but has increased the number of independent registrants Has not had much of an impact on election results

Voting is only one way of participating Other ways: –1. Joining civic organizations –2. Supporting social movements –3. Writing legislators –4. Fighting city hall

The important question is……. The important question about participation is not how much participation there is, but how different kinds of participation affect the kind of government we get. If 100% of all Americans registered and voted, it could mean that people were deeply upset with the way things were run. Low turnout could indicate that people are reasonably well satisfied with how the government is run.

From State to Federal Control In the beginning states had a wide latitude in determining elections – odd years, early elections, electing Congressmen at large rather from districts (Illinois example) In 1842 Congress passed a law which required that all members of the House of Representatives be elected by districts; other laws mandated elections being held in even years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November

Most important changes The most important changes in expanding the electorate has been about extending the vote to women, African-Americans and 18- year olds 15 th Amendment: 19 th Amendment: 26 th Amendment:

Roadblocks to black voting Literacy test: –Outlawed by the 1965 Voting Rights Act Poll Tax: –Outlawed by the 24 th Amendment Grandfather Clause: –Outlawed by Guinn and Beall v United States (1915) White Primary: –Ruled illegal in Smith v Allwright (1944)

18-year old right to vote Voting Rights Act of 1970 extended the vote to 18 year olds in federal elections – it also had a provision for lowering the age to 18 in state elections The Supreme Court declared this unconstitutional – result? 26 th Amendment 1972 elections were the first for year old age group The Democrats (George McGovern) were counting on the youth vote – most young voters supported Richard Nixon (most college students favored McGovern)

Australian Ballot

Who participates in politics? Forms of participation: –1. Voting – by far the most common –2. Activists – about 1/9 of the population

Between voting and activists Between the extremes of voting and activism there are four categories of limited forms of participation: 1. Voting Specialists-they vote, but do little else 2. Campaigners-Vote and get involved in campaign activities 3. Communalists – Same social background as campaigners; do not like political conflict; focus on non- partisan activities and community activities 4. Parochial Participants – do not vote and stay out of election campaigns and civic organizations, but are willing to contact local officials about specific, often personal problems

Voting patterns/trends Voting is higher for college graduates than non-graduates Religious involvement increases political participation Men and women vote at about the same rate, but blacks and whites do not – when the socio-economic status of blacks and whites are the same, blacks tend to participate more than whites Data shows there is no correlation between expressing distrust of political leaders and non-voting – people who are cynical about our leaders are just as likely to vote as those who are not.

Again, the big factor……… Here it is again – turnout is strongly affected by the number of people who have registered to vote Since 1970, federal law has prohibited residency requirements longer than thirty days for presidential elections, and in 1972, the Supreme Court decision of Dunn v Blumstein held that requirements much in excess of thirty days were invalid for state and local elections. By 1982, 21 states had adopted laws permitting voters to register by mail In Minnesota, Maine, Oregon and Wisconsin, voters can register and vote on the very same day!

Ethnic lack of participation Of all the ethnic groups, Hispanics tend to participate less than others

Su Voto Es Su Voz – “Your vote is your voice”

Helpful websites Voter turnout statistics: – ections/elections.htmhttp://clerkweb.house.gov/histrecs/history/el ections/elections.htm –