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Political Participation

Political Participation. An Introduction. Voting Rates. Registered Voters Australia 95% Austria 95 Sweden 91 Germany 89 USA 86 France 86 UK 76 Japan 75 Canada 69 Switzerland 48. Voting-Age Population Austria 89% Sweden 87 Australia 83 Germany 81

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Political Participation

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  1. Political Participation An Introduction

  2. Voting Rates Registered Voters Australia 95% Austria 95 Sweden 91 Germany 89 USA 86 France 86 UK 76 Japan 75 Canada 69 Switzerland 48 Voting-Age Population Austria 89% Sweden 87 Australia 83 Germany 81 France 78 UK 76 Japan 74 Canada 67 USA 53 Switzerland 39

  3. Non-Participation • Very low voter turnout compared to European countries • Causes • Apathy?--Not according to the authors of our text • The real problem: Low voter registration rates • Registration is not automatic (as in Europe) • There is no penalty for not registering

  4. State to Federal Control

  5. State to Federal Control • 1842 law: House members elected by district • 17th Amendment (1913): Direct popular election of senators • 15th Amendment (1870): Suffrage to Blacks • But, literacy tests, poll taxes, etc.1965 Voting Rights Act • 19th Amendment (1920): Suffrage to women • 26th Amendment (1971): Suffrage to 18—21 year-olds • HAVA (2002): Attempt to standardize voting machines, and registration processes

  6. Voter Turnout Decline • Some say the decline is not real (skewed by 19th c. Voter Fraud) • Party Ballots, Public Ballots, Party Counting • Slogan: “Vote Early and Vote Often” • 1888 County Election Turnout (W. Virginia): 108% • But, this doesn’t explain continued drop since 1960’s • Real decline in Popular interest, and party competition (turnaround in 2008?)

  7. The Final Word “Low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls” (attributed to Dan Quayle, George Bush, John Kerry, and Al Gore)

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