Voter Behavior

1. Chapter 6 Section 4
Voter Behavior

2. A. The Size of the Problem
• 1. Only ½ of eligible voters turn
out for Presidential election
• 2. Only 1/3 of eligible voters turn
out for off-year elections

3. • Factors that are not widely
known:
–A. more people vote in federal
than in state elections
–*State/local elections affect us
more!!!

4. Factors Cont.
• B. some people suffer from
“ballot fatigue”—farther they
read down the ballot, the less
time they take to make sure their
vote is accurate

5. Factors Cont.
• C. turn out is lower in off year
elections and in special elections
than it is in presidential year
elections

6. A. Why people don’t Vote
• 1. “Cannot Voters”
• -nearly 20 million do not vote
because they can’t
• -these include illegal aliens,
mentally handicapped and
persons in prison

7. “Cannot” Cont.
• -religious beliefs forbid some to
participate in government
• -discriminatory election
procedures

8. • 2. Actual Nonvoters
• a. not satisfied with system or
candidates
• b. distrust in system, process or
candidates
• c. bad weather
• d. cumbersome election
procedures

9. • 3. Factors affecting turnout
• a. voters tend to be on higher
end of the social, economic and
education ladder
• b. non-voters are usually under
age of 35, unmarried, unskilled

10. Factors Cont. (again)
• c. people with a high sense of
political efficacy (producing a
desired result) vote no matter
what their background is
• d. greater the candidate
competition, better the turnout