1. The how and why of voting in American elections
Voter Behavior
The how and why of voting in American elections

2. Larry Sabato, The Crystal Ball

3. THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Would the results of the 2012 election have been different if EVERYONE voted? Do American political parties really want everyone to vote?
Will turnout in the 2014 midterms be up or down from 2010?

4. Updates to Patterson
Voter
Behavior
What has changed (if any) since your text was published?
1. Find in the text where Patterson discusses the information on your slide. (page #)
Is Patterson still accurate? Why or why not? Cite textual evidence. (You may also use the “Changing Voter” article.
Finally, make sure you can explain your slide to the class.
Why is your slide (AP VOCAB WORDS) important to voter behavior?
Let’s go!

5. 56% 11% 22% 68% Cast Presidential Ballots Campaign Volunteer Protest
Voter
Behavior
56%
Cast Presidential
Ballots
(avg. since 1960)
Campaign Volunteer
Protest
11%
22%
Vs.
Activists
Inactive
68%
Civil
Society
Affiliated w/
1+ nonpolitical
organizations

6. Rise of Independent Voters = DEALIGNMENT with political parties
Behavior
Rise of Independent Voters =
DEALIGNMENT with political parties

7. Straight Ticket OR Split Ticket?
Voter
Behavior
Straight Ticket OR Split Ticket?

8. Prospective Voting Retrospective Voting “Forward Looking”
Voter
Behavior
Prospective
Voting
“Forward Looking”
Issue Focused
Retrospective Voting
“Backward Looking”
Vote for the incumbent if…

9. Voter
Behavior
Divided
Government
Source:
New York Times
Nov 2008

10. Electoral REALIGNMENT
Voter
Behavior
1932 Presidential Election
1980 Presidential Election
CRITICAL ELECTION =
Electoral REALIGNMENT

11. Voter
Behavior

12. Rise of Independent Voters = DEALIGNMENT with political parties
Behavior
Rise of Independent Voters =
DEALIGNMENT with political parties

13. Voter
Behavior

14. Voter
Behavior
Factor: the Gender Gap

15. Voter
Behavior
Youth
Vote

16. Voter
Behavior

17. VEP = Voting Eligible Population VAP = Voting Age Population
Voter
Behavior
VEP = Voting Eligible Population
VAP = Voting Age Population
58.2% VEP
“United States Election Mason University
Minnesota = 75.7%? How did they do that?

18. Voter
Behavior

19. Voter
Behavior
African Americans Voted at a Higher Rate than Whites in the 2012 Election — A FIRST reported by the Census Bureau Reports

20. Voter
Behavior

21. In the United States, eligibility to vote:
Voter
Behavior
In the United States, eligibility to vote:
requires the voter to be registered.
requires the voter to be at least 18 years old
Is determined by federal, not state, laws
mandates that the voter be a natural-born citizen
I only
III and IV only
I, II, and IV only
II, III, and IV only
I, II, III and IV

22. Of the following groups, which would be the least likely to vote?
Voter
Behavior
Of the following groups, which would be the least likely to vote?
College graduates
Senior citizens
High income earners
Middle aged [45-64]
High School Drop-outs

23. Voters find it difficult to register to vote.
Behavior
Which of the following is NOT an explanation for low voter turnout in the United States?
Voters find it difficult to register to vote.
Media coverage is uninformative to most voters.
Most Americans have high political efficacy.
Negative campaigning alienates voters.
Nonvoters do not believe that their vote matters.