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POL S 354: Elections & Voting in U.S.

POL S 354: Elections & Voting in U.S. “Defining Political Participation” Week 1: March 30, 2006. Voting and Election News…. Interesting News Stories: 1. Senate passes election-year ethics bill to address interaction with lobbyists

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POL S 354: Elections & Voting in U.S.

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  1. POL S 354: Elections & Voting in U.S. “Defining Political Participation” Week 1: March 30, 2006

  2. Voting and Election News… Interesting News Stories: 1. Senate passes election-year ethics bill to address interaction with lobbyists 2. Senate debates immigration bill – is this symbolic politics or real reform 3. Immigrant protest in Los Angeles http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/25/immigration.rallies.ap/index.html

  3. What is Democracy What are the bases of democracy? What is political participation? What does it mean to have equality?

  4. VSB list of Political Activity Vote Campaign Work Campaign Contribution Contact an Official Sign a Petition Protest / Rally Informal Community Work Member of a Local Board Affiliation with Political Organization Contribution to a Political Cause

  5. Correlates of Political Activity What is SES? Why is this a leading correlate of participation? Other variables correlated with political participation?

  6. Requirements for Voting • Citizenship (some exceptions) • 18 years or older • Resident of the jurisdiction (30 days) • Register to vote • Identification (varies by state) • Disqualified persons: prison inmates, convicted felons, election-law violators, and mentally incompetent

  7. The Expanding American Electorate • 1789: Adult, White Men, Property Owners • 1850: literacy laws & poll taxes enforced • 1866: 14th Amd. granted right to all 21 year old men • 1870: 15th Amd. granted right to vote to Blacks • 1920: 19th Amd. granted right to vote to women • 1964: 24th Amd. outlaws poll taxes • 1965: Voting Rights Act fully incorporates Black voters • 1971: 26th Amd. granted right to vote to 18 year olds • 1975: VRA Amendment to include language minorities (bilingual voting info)

  8. 2004 Vote Choice Breakdown Bush Kerry Male 55% 44% Female 48% 51% White 58% 41% Black 11% 88% Latino 38% 62% Asian 44% 56% 18-29 45% 54% Over 60 54% 46% $15-30K 42% 57% $100-150K 57% 42%

  9. How do Voters Decide? • While demographic characteristics show a pattern, the underlying factors are: • Party Identification • Perception of the candidates • Issue preference / congruence Bush Kerry Democrat 11% 89% Republican 93% 6% Issue: Terror 86% 14% Issue: Jobs 18% 80%

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