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Chapter Eight

Political Participation

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Elections: From State to Federal Control

Initially, under the U.S. Constitution, states decided who could vote and for which offices

This led to wide variation in federal elections

Congress has since reduced state prerogatives through law and constitutional amendments

greenevillesun.com

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Elections: Federal Changes1842 law: House

members elected by district

17th Amendment (1913): election of Senators

15th Amendment (1870): seemed to give suffrage to African Americans (had to prove the denial was based on race) liberty-ca.org

Elections: Federal Changes1965 Voting Rights Act –

(suspended literacy test, federal examiners to increase registration, criminal penalties for interfering with the right to vote) (2006 – 25 year extension) (Rise in Black voting)

19th Amendment (1920): Women given suffrage

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westlawinsider.com

Voting Rights Act

Provides registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials of information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, it shall provide them in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.

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Voting Rights Act

Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the department has regularly sent observers and monitors around the country to protect voters’ rights. 

The observers and department personnel will gather information on whether voters are subject to different voting qualifications or procedures on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. 6

Voting Rights Act

On Election Day, federal observers will monitor polling place activities in 16 jurisdictions: Autauga County, Ala.; Bethel, Alaska; Apache and Navajo Counties, Ariz.; Riverside County, Calif.; Randolph County, Ga.; Kane County, Ill.; Salem County (Penns Grove), N.J.; Cibola and Sandoval Counties, N.M.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Shannon County; S.D.; and Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston and Williamson Counties, Texas.

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Elections: Federal Changes

1970 – Voting Rights Act giving 18 year olds the right to vote was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (Oregon v Mitchell – States could set their own age for state elections)

26th Amendment (1971): 18-year-olds given suffrage

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Voter TurnoutAlleged problem: low

turnout of voters in the U.S. compared to Europe

Data is misleading: it tends to compare turnout of the voting-age population; turnout of registered voters reveals the problem is not so severe (voting eligible)

The real problem is low voter registration rates

cyanpdx.com

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Figure 8.2: Voter Participation in Presidential Elections, 1860-2004

For 1860-1928: Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, part 2, 1071; 1932-1944: Statistical Abstract of the United State, 1992, 517; 1948-2000: Michael P. McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin,

"The Myth of the Vanishing Voter," American Political Science Review 95 (December 2001): table 1, 966.

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Voter Turnout

Multiple justifications for voting decline:

Incumbency – less competition

Lessening popular interest – little difference between the parties

opensecrets.org

Voter TurnoutDecreasing party

mobilization

Historical voter turnout figures were skewed by fraud – “floater” – person who would vote multiple times

Difficulty of registration – (Has become easier in many states - WI) 12

www2.needham.k12.ma.us

Six Kinds of US Citizens Campaigners: vote,

get involved in campaign activities, more educated, interested in politics, identify with a party, take strong positions

Communalists: nonpartisan community activists with a local focus

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life.com

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Six Kinds of US Citizens

Inactives: rarely vote, contribute to political organizations, or discuss politics; have little education, low income, young, many blacks

Voting specialists: vote but do little else; not much education or income, older voters

politicsdaily.com

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Six Kinds of US Citizens

Parochial participants: don’t vote or participate in campaigns or political organizations, but do contact politicians about specific problems

Activists: Participate in all forms of politics; highly educated, high income, middle age

ranchocordovapost.com

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Predictors of Participation

Those with schooling or political information are more likely to vote

Age is the second major determining factor

Men and women vote at the same rate

upenn.edu

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Predictors of Participation

Black participation is lower than that of whites overall

Controlling for socioeconomic status, blacks participate at a higher rate than whites

zazzle.com.au

Predictors of Participation

Church-goers vote more, because church involvement develops the skills associated with political participation

Studies show no correlation between distrust of political leaders and not voting 18

veteranstoday.com

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Factors That Decrease Turnout

More youths, blacks, and other minorities in population are pushing down the percentage of eligible adults who are registered and vote

Parties are less effective in mobilizing voters

mimifroufrou.com

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Factors That Decrease Turnout

Voting is not compulsory, as it is in some other nations – should it be mandatory that people should vote?

Remaining impediments to registration have some discouraging effects

compulsoryvoting.org

Factors That Decrease Turnout

Some potential voters may feel that elections do not matter

Americans elect far more public officials than do citizens of other countries

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infohedon.blogspot.com

Voting For Public Officials

Ex. Franklin - President, Senator, Representative, Mayor, School Board, State Senator, Assembly, County Executive, Sheriff, City Council, State Superintendant – DPI, Wisconsin State Supreme Court, Judges

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hirdcoastdigest.com

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Participation Other Than Voting

Americans are engaged in political activities other then voting

Examples??????

Provide reasons why

participation outside of

the voting process can

be effective!!!! thehindu.com

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Participation Other Than Voting

People can give money to a candidate

They can join political organizations – actively work for a candidate/voter registration mainlinemedianews.com

Participation Other Than Voting

Actively participate in community problem- solving organizations

Run for political office

Political discussion groups – persuade others toward action

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anunews.net

Participation Other Than Voting

Contact political officials/media

Litigation – work within the judicial system

Protest – including sit-ins or marches 26

guardian.co.uk