1. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Chapter 7 Voting and Participation Lecture 7

2. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Actual voter turnout depends on: Voter Traits Registration Laws Campaign Contacts

3. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Education is the most important variable in whether people vote. Education and Voting

4. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Socio-economic Status Family Income + = Education Occupational Status

5. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Voter Traits Socioeconomic Status Race and Ethnicity Psychological Characteristics

6. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Registration Laws Registration and voting laws also affect turnout by changing the costs of voting from state to state. The more difficult and time-consuming it is to vote, the less likely people are to do so.

7. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Voter Turnout in the 1990s

8. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Percentage of Southern Whites registered to vote in 1960 Voting Act of 1965

9. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Voting Act of 1965 Percentage of Southern African-Americans registered to vote in 1960

10. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Tests of literacy Educational attainment Knowledge Good moral character The Voting Act of 1965 Eliminated the following “requirements” for voting. These factors were “interpreted” by Southern registrars to deny Blacks the vote.

11. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Activism can be defined as political activities that go beyond voting, such as attempting to persuade others, attending rallies, donating money, or working for a candidate or cause. 7-2 Political Activists

12. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Three Factors Influencing Voting Behavior Party Identification Candidate Characteristics Issues

13. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 7-3a Party Identification The psychological feeling of belonging to a particular political party, which influences voting behavior

14. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 7-3b Candidate Characteristics The candidate's character, personality, experiences, past record, and physical appearance

15. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Retrospective Issue Voting Prospective Issue Voting Easy Issues Hard Issues 7-3c Issues

16. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Retrospective Issue Voting Deciding how to vote on the basis of past policy outcomes Prospective Issue Voting Deciding how to vote on the basis of a candidate's likely future policies and campaign promises

17. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Easy issues that allow voters to make quick, emotional decisions without much information Easy Issues Deciding how to vote on the basis of a candidate's likely future policies Hard Issues

18. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Why Many Americans Do Not Vote Lack of education and information Lack of personal efficacy Complex registration rules Frequent movers must re-register Felon disenfranchisement laws in many states No personal contact by party officials or interest groups (churches, labor unions) Skepticism about politics, government officials See no differences between parties or candidates

19. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Why Many Young Americans Do Not Vote Weak party identification Rely on TV: little knowledge of candidates or issues Frequent movers; must re-register Transients, renters; little stake in state/local issues Many young minority males have prison records Parties and candidates appeal to older voters

20. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Hudson: Trivialized Elections Hudson argues that US elections fail to meet three essential criteria for true democracy: 1. Equal representation 2. Opportunity for policy deliberation 3. Election outcomes should control what government does

21. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Unequal Representation Equal voting rights are not sufficient in a representative democracy Political parties are required to provide choices and channel votes into policy influence US parties have been weakened by “reforms” – primaries, end of patronage, state regulations Thus candidates self-select and parties have little influence over their policy choices

22. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Problems with Candidate-Centered Campaigns Emphasis on fundraising, personal wealth, PACs “Hidden election” by wealthy donors actually selects the candidate long before the primaries No commitment to a party platform or policy record Emphasis on marketing techniques, image, NOT policy or voters’ concerns Once elected, candidates have weak ties to party

23. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Problems with Media Coverage Focus on the “horse race” not issues Declining coverage of policy substance; shorter sound bites Coverage of jokes, mishaps, sensation, scandals Negative campaigning/attack ads work best to gain voter and media attention Campaigns as spectacles or entertainment, NOT opportunity for deliberation

24. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Hudson: Elections Do Not Control Policy No one can draw policy conclusions from trivialized elections Nonelected institutions make policy: The Federal Reserve Board The Supreme Court Interest-group influence over the bureaucracy Without party support, candidates cannot carry out their promises Clinton and health care Bush and Social Security privatization