1. Why People vote Suffering through Suffrage

2. Clearly Stated Learning Objectives Examine the 2008 Election in the broader context of American electoral history Analyze the theories of why people vote and apply them to the 2008 Election. Identify and describe the formal and informal institutions involved in the electoral process at the Presidential and Congressional levels

3. What is suffrage? The Right To Vote Why we have expanded suffrage historically We have made it easier to vote

4. SOME NATIONS LOVE TO VOTE

6. Why so high elsewhere? Compulsory voting Fewer Elections PR systems and MMD

7. Compared to other Nations, Americans Don’t Vote Demographic Factors Behavioral Factors Institutional Factors

8. Ways of Measuring Voting in America Voting Age Population- those who voted/those who are 18 Voting eligible population- those who voted/those who registered There is a differencedifference

11. Who votes in America?

12. Age and Voting Older People vote more Why Curvilinear relationship!

13. Education and Voting This is a linear relationship Why do better educated people vote more

14. Education and Age in 2008

15. Income and Voting Wealthy people vote at higher Rates Correlated with income

16. Campaign Interest Linked to Education

17. Partisanship Strong Partisans more than independents

18. Voter Turnout in 2008 130 Million voted, 61% which was the highest since 1968 Where was turnout up? – Best States – Worst States

19. People expected more Voters Only slightly higher than 2004 18-29 year olds did not increase greatly Why No increase?

20. Why People Don’t Vote: Institutions

21. Registration Registration is a large restriction on voting States control this power States Once you register, you are more likely to vote

22. Other Institutional Barriers Restrictions on suffrage Electoral Competition.

24. Why People Don’t Vote Demographics

25. Why Young People Don’t Vote Are Unfamiliar with the system- Are one step above Gypsies Have less formal and political education

26. Classic Demographics Race Gender Region

27. HIGH AND LOW STIMULUS ELECTIONS The Saw-tooth Pattern

28. Presidential elections Why Higher What is the Result- the exciting saw-tooth pattern

30. Low turnout because of partisanship Fewer People Identify with one of the parties Increasingly difficult to target voters Partisan districts depress turnout

31. Is it rational to vote? Some Say No

32. The Rational Voting Calculus C= Cost of participation B= Benefit of voting P= Probability that your vote matters D= The civic duty term C> PB +D We Stay At Home C< PB +D We Vote

33. When to rationally vote The election is close You Benefit from the election

34. When it is Rational to abstain When the election’s outcome does not affect you fiscally. When the costs are very high – Information costs are especially high Information When the election is not close Better ways to participate