FrontPage : Have Who Votes worksheet on your desk.

1. FrontPage: Have Who Votes worksheet on your desk. Last Word: No homework

2. The Voter • What are the common characteristics of those who vote?

6. Voting: Why or Why Not? • Type of election – More vote in presidential years than in “off-years”

7. Voting: Why or Why Not? • Negative Ads –Likely to keep voters home, but research exists on both sides

8. Voting: Why or Why Not? • Negative Ads –Likely to keep voters home, but research exists on both sides

9. Voting: Why or Why Not? • Public Opinion polls – Could serve to mobilize candidate currently behind; could have opposite effect

10. Voting: Why or Why Not? • Weather – bad weather can severely depress turnout • “Time Zone Fallout” – In prez. election years, as polls close in the East, media projections of winner may discourage Westerners from voting • “Ballot Fatigue” and/or “Partial Non-voters” – Farther down on the ballot, voters know less, care less, vote less • Candidates or issues – Depending on the election and current events

11. Reasons for Higher Voter Turnout in the 2008 Election

12. Reasons for Higher Voter Turnout in the 2008 Election • The Change Factor – • Obama “hype” caused voter turnout to rise • The “Bush Factor” – • Citizens turn out to vote for or against Bush policies of past 8 years • A Close Race – • Elections in recent years have been close; generates excitement and feeling that votes matter

13. Reasons for higher voter turnout (for a midterm) in 2010 • Republican “revolution”? • First chance for Republican voters to formally “hit back” at Obama policies

14. Reasons for higher voter turnout (for a midterm) in 2010 • “It’s the economy, stupid.” • Voters concern with issues, including jobs and debt

15. Reasons for high voter turnout in 2012 • Referendum on Obama’s first term • Potential for Palin (first woman president?)