1. Political Participation

2. Voter Participation History of suffrage Turnout 15th Amendment
Averages 55% since 1960s in presidential
Midterms rarely top 40%
Local elections are around 20%
Bottom among world’s democracies
Belgium—90%

3. Why Low Turnout? Registration requirements Frequency elections
Must register
Residency requirement
Motor voter
Identification cards
Frequency elections
More often than any other nation
Primaries
Separate state/local from federal
Scheduled on Tuesday
Party differences
Two parties v. European style
Will not substantially affect future or the nation

4. Why Don’t Individual Americans Vote?
Civic Attitudes
Civic duty v. apathy v. alienation
Age
Education
Income
We lack socialist or labor parties like Europe

5. Beyond Voting… Campaigning and lobbying Virtual participation
Working or attending rallies
More here than in Europe
More opportunities
More likely to lobby as well
Virtual participation s
MoveOn
Future of internet?
Community activities
Social capital

6. More Controversial?
The vote gives citizens the right to choose their leaders BUT ALSO gives government control over citizens.
Social movements
Protest
Calculated act
Less common today in US than many Western democracies despite our history
Public support is also low

7. Influence Why do we participate?
Do we think we are supposed to or do we actually care?
Big divide between personal lives and national life
Properly public v. properly private
Should we want everyone to vote?