Chap. 8: p.184 Voter behaviorI. Non-voters A. Only 51% voted in 2000 B. Non-voters 1. Cannot voters 2. Those who just don’t vote a. Makes no difference or are satisfied. b. No sense of political efficacy and distrust of politicians

c. Other factors affecting voting

1) Cumbersome voting procedures (long lines, long ballots, inconvenient registration rules 2) Time-zone fallout:Calif. hears that

Obama won before polls close.

II. WHO VOTES? WHO II. WHO VOTES? WHO CARES?CARES?

Political Socialization: Process by which Political Socialization: Process by which we get our political attitudes throughout we get our political attitudes throughout

lifelife

Characteristics of the person most likely Characteristics of the person most likely to voteto vote

A. GENDERA. GENDER

1. Men and women vote almost the 1. Men and women vote almost the same.same.

2. Why? Both are out-and-about the 2. Why? Both are out-and-about the same in the workforce and society same in the workforce and society in general. They are both connected in general. They are both connected

at work and sociallyat work and socially

B. RACE/ETHNICITYB. RACE/ETHNICITY1. White vote more than any other group.1. White vote more than any other group.

2. Why? They are represented more than 2. Why? They are represented more than any other group in the other categories.any other group in the other categories.

Examples: income, education, etc.Examples: income, education, etc.

3. If you make socio-economic status equal, 3. If you make socio-economic status equal, African Americans vote more than African Americans vote more than Whites. They are the most loyal to the Whites. They are the most loyal to the democrat party. democrat party.

C. INCOME/OCCUPATIONC. INCOME/OCCUPATION1. Over $50,000 more likely to vote.1. Over $50,000 more likely to vote.

2. Why? They have something to lose. 2. Why? They have something to lose. They are engaged in the systemThey are engaged in the system

3. Employed people vote 3. Employed people vote

4. Why? They are out-and-about and 4. Why? They are out-and-about and are involved in what is going on and are involved in what is going on and don’t want to lose don’t want to lose

what they have.what they have.

D. AGED. AGE1. Over 45 vote more than those under 1. Over 45 vote more than those under

4545

2. Why? They have families, jobs, 2. Why? They have families, jobs, homes, something to lose. They homes, something to lose. They are involved so are connected.are involved so are connected.

E. EDUCATIONE. EDUCATION1. The more educated you are, the 1. The more educated you are, the

more likely you vote.more likely you vote.

2. Why? You understand the issues 2. Why? You understand the issues and you most likely have a job and and you most likely have a job and income.income.

F. CHURCH ATTENDANCEF. CHURCH ATTENDANCE1. Attending church regularly 1. Attending church regularly

translates to voting regularly.translates to voting regularly.

2. Why? You are involved in an 2. Why? You are involved in an organization that gives you organization that gives you direction and you associate with direction and you associate with people who provide you with people who provide you with information and are like-minded. information and are like-minded. You are connected.You are connected.

G. MARRIEDG. MARRIED1. Marriage provides more 1. Marriage provides more

participating voters.participating voters.2. Why? Once married you have a job, 2. Why? Once married you have a job,

house, family, something to lose. house, family, something to lose. You stay informed to keep it and to You stay informed to keep it and to protect it.protect it.

H. SuburbsH. Suburbs1. People who live in the suburbs more 1. People who live in the suburbs more

likely to vote. likely to vote.

2. Why? They have families, jobs, 2. Why? They have families, jobs, education, income, etc. so will vote.education, income, etc. so will vote.

What does this figure What does this figure mean?mean?

1 Voter turnout is heavily weighted to the 1 Voter turnout is heavily weighted to the higher-status persons: those in higher-status persons: those in professional, managerial, and other professional, managerial, and other white-collar occupations are over-white-collar occupations are over-represented among the voters. This represented among the voters. This means they are also older and educated.means they are also older and educated.

2. Because of this the elected officials try to 2. Because of this the elected officials try to please them to keep being re-electedplease them to keep being re-elected

Psychological factors of voting

How voters react to parties, candidates and issues

1.1. Party identification: Single, mostParty identification: Single, most

significant and lasting predictor of significant and lasting predictor of how a person will vote. (straighthow a person will vote. (straight

ticket voting) ticket voting)

Parties can depend on these people Parties can depend on these people to support them. to support them.

2. Candidates:A loyal 2. Candidates:A loyal party memberparty member

maybe temporarily maybe temporarily affected by aaffected by a

candidate’s style candidate’s style personality, pastpersonality, past

record, abilities or record, abilities or appearanceappearance

and switch partiesand switch parties

3. Issues: Can temporarily cause3. Issues: Can temporarily cause

voters to switch parties. Examples:voters to switch parties. Examples:

Economy, ebola, Isis, and theEconomy, ebola, Isis, and the

long wars in Afghanistan and long wars in Afghanistan and

Iraq Iraq