1. Political Participation
Chapter Eight
Political Participation

2. Elections: From State to Federal Control
Initially, under the U.S. Constitution, states decided who could vote and for which offices
This led to wide variation in federal elections
Congress has since reduced state prerogatives through law and constitutional amendments
greenevillesun.com

3. Elections: Federal Changes
1842 law: House members elected by district
17th Amendment (1913): election of Senators
15th Amendment (1870): seemed to give suffrage to African Americans (had to prove the denial was based on race)
liberty-ca.org

4. Elections: Federal Changes
1965 Voting Rights Act – (suspended literacy test, federal examiners to increase registration, criminal penalties for interfering with the right to vote) (2006 – 25 year extension) (Rise in Black voting)
19th Amendment (1920): Women given suffrage
westlawinsider.com

5. Voting Rights Act
Provides registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials of information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, it shall provide them in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.

6. Voting Rights Act
Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the department has regularly sent observers and monitors around the country to protect voters’ rights. 
The observers and department personnel will gather information on whether voters are subject to different voting qualifications or procedures on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.

7. Voting Rights Act
On Election Day, federal observers will monitor polling place activities in 16 jurisdictions:
Autauga County, Ala.;
Bethel, Alaska;
Apache and Navajo Counties, Ariz.;
Riverside County, Calif.;
Randolph County, Ga.;
Kane County, Ill.;
Salem County (Penns Grove), N.J.;
Cibola and Sandoval Counties, N.M.;
Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
Shannon County; S.D.; and
Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston and Williamson Counties, Texas.

8. Elections: Federal Changes
1970 – Voting Rights Act giving 18 year olds the right to vote was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (Oregon v Mitchell – States could set their own age for state elections)
26th Amendment (1971): 18-year-olds given suffrage

9. Voter Turnout
Alleged problem: low turnout of voters in the U.S. compared to Europe
Data is misleading: it tends to compare turnout of the voting-age population; turnout of registered voters reveals the problem is not so severe (voting eligible)
The real problem is low voter registration rates
cyanpdx.com

10. Figure 8.2: Voter Participation in Presidential Elections, 1860-2004
Insert figure 8.2 (formerly 6.2 in 9e)
For : Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, part 2, 1071; : Statistical Abstract of the United State, 1992, 517; : Michael P. McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin, "The Myth of the Vanishing Voter," American Political Science Review 95 (December 2001): table 1, 966.

11. Voter Turnout Multiple justifications for voting decline:
Lessening popular interest – little difference between the parties
opensecrets.org
Incumbency – less competition

12. Voter Turnout Decreasing party mobilization
Historical voter turnout figures were skewed by fraud – “floater” – person who would vote multiple times
Difficulty of registration – (Has become easier in many states - WI)
Voter Turnout
www2.needham.k12.ma.us

13. Six Kinds of US Citizens
Campaigners: vote, get involved in campaign activities, more educated, interested in politics, identify with a party, take strong positions
Communalists: nonpartisan community activists with a local focus
life.com

14. Six Kinds of US Citizens
Inactives: rarely vote, contribute to political organizations, or discuss politics; have little education, low income, young, many blacks
Voting specialists: vote but do little else; not much education or income, older voters
politicsdaily.com

15. Six Kinds of US Citizens
Parochial participants: don’t vote or participate in campaigns or political organizations, but do contact politicians about specific problems
Activists: Participate in all forms of politics; highly educated, high income, middle age
ranchocordovapost.com

16. Predictors of Participation
Those with schooling or political information are more likely to vote
Age is the second major determining factor
Men and women vote at the same rate
upenn.edu

17. Predictors of Participation
Black participation is lower than that of whites overall
Controlling for socioeconomic status, blacks participate at a higher rate than whites
zazzle.com.au

18. Predictors of Participation
Church-goers vote more, because church involvement develops the skills associated with political participation
Studies show no correlation between distrust of political leaders and not voting
veteranstoday.com

19. Factors That Decrease Turnout
More youths, blacks, and other minorities in population are pushing down the percentage of eligible adults who are registered and vote
Parties are less effective in mobilizing voters
mimifroufrou.com

20. Factors That Decrease Turnout
Voting is not compulsory, as it is in some other nations – should it be mandatory that people should vote?
Remaining impediments to registration have some discouraging effects
compulsoryvoting.org

21. Factors That Decrease Turnout
Some potential voters may feel that elections do not matter
Americans elect far more public officials than do citizens of other countries
infohedon.blogspot.com

22. Voting For Public Officials
Ex. Franklin - President, Senator, Representative, Mayor, School Board, State Senator, Assembly, County Executive, Sheriff, City Council, State Superintendant – DPI, Wisconsin State Supreme Court, Judges
hirdcoastdigest.com

23. Participation Other Than Voting
Americans are engaged in political activities other then voting
Examples??????
Provide reasons why
participation outside of
the voting process can
be effective!!!!
thehindu.com

24. Participation Other Than Voting
People can give money to a candidate
They can join political organizations – actively work for a candidate/voter registration
mainlinemedianews.com

25. Participation Other Than Voting
Actively participate in community problem- solving organizations
Run for political office
Political discussion groups – persuade others toward action
anunews.net

26. Participation Other Than Voting
Contact political officials/media
Litigation – work within the judicial system
Protest – including sit-ins or marches
guardian.co.uk