Chap8

11
Chapter 8Chapter 8
PoliticalPolitical
ParticipationParticipation

22Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1.1. Who votes, who doesn’t?Who votes, who doesn’t?
2.2. Why do some people participate inWhy do some people participate in
politics at higher rates than others?politics at higher rates than others?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. How did the Framers of theHow did the Framers of the
Constitution think average citizensConstitution think average citizens
should participate in America’sshould participate in America’s
representative democracy?representative democracy?
2.2. Should today’s college-age citizensShould today’s college-age citizens
participate more in politics?participate more in politics?

44
A Closer Look At NonvotingA Closer Look At Nonvoting
VAP vs. VEPVAP vs. VEP
 Voting-Age Population: All U.S. residentsVoting-Age Population: All U.S. residents
age 18 or older.age 18 or older.
 Voting-Eligible Population: Excludes U.S.Voting-Eligible Population: Excludes U.S.
residents that are not legally permitted toresidents that are not legally permitted to
cast a ballot.cast a ballot.
Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

55
A Closer Look at NonvotingA Closer Look at Nonvoting
 Sources of low voter turnoutSources of low voter turnout
• a relatively low percentage of thea relatively low percentage of the
voting-age population is registered tovoting-age population is registered to
vote.vote.
• approximately one-half of all nonvotersapproximately one-half of all nonvoters
are registeredare registered

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A Closer Look at NonvotingA Closer Look at Nonvoting
 Registered nonvoters gave threeRegistered nonvoters gave three
major reasons why they did notmajor reasons why they did not
vote:vote:
• Too busy or had scheduling conflictsToo busy or had scheduling conflicts
• Family chores or obligationsFamily chores or obligations
• Believed their vote would not make aBelieved their vote would not make a
differencedifference

Source: Updated from Michael P.Source: Updated from Michael P.
McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin,McDonald and Samuel L. Popkin,
“The Myth of the Vanishing Voter,”“The Myth of the Vanishing Voter,”
American Political Science ReviewAmerican Political Science Review
95 (December 2001):95 (December 2001):
table 1, 966. Reprinted withtable 1, 966. Reprinted with
permission of Cambridgepermission of Cambridge
University Press; Michael P.University Press; Michael P.
McDonald, “2008 General ElectionMcDonald, “2008 General Election
Turnout Rates,” updated April 26,Turnout Rates,” updated April 26,
2009, at2009, at
http://elections.gmu.edu,http://elections.gmu.edu,
accessed May 8, 2009.accessed May 8, 2009.

88
Source: Rafael Lopez Pintor, Maria Gratschew, and Kate
Sullivan, “Voter Turnout Rates from a Comparative
Perspective,” in Voter Turnout Since 1945: A Global Report
(Stockholm, Sweden: International Institute for Democracy
and Electoral Assistance, 2002).

Source: Adapted from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, June 2008, Table 400.

1010
Figure 8.1 Voting and RegistrationFigure 8.1 Voting and Registration
Source: U.S. BureauSource: U.S. Bureau
of the Census,of the Census,
Current PopulationCurrent Population
Survey,Survey,
““Voting andVoting and
Registration,” JuneRegistration,” June
2008.2008.

1111
The Rise of the AmericanThe Rise of the American
ElectorateElectorate
 From State toFrom State to
Federal ControlFederal Control
• Literacy testLiteracy test
• Poll taxPoll tax
• Grandfather clauseGrandfather clause
• White primaryWhite primary
Department of Social History/Smithsonian Institution
After Reconstruction ended in
1876, black voting shrank
under the attacks of white
supremacists, p. 188.

1313
After the Civil Rights Act of 1964After the Civil Rights Act of 1964
was passed, blacks and whiteswas passed, blacks and whites
voted together in a small Alabamavoted together in a small Alabama
town.town.
The campaign to win the vote forThe campaign to win the vote for
women nationwide succeeded withwomen nationwide succeeded with
the adoption of the Nineteenththe adoption of the Nineteenth
Amendment in 1920.Amendment in 1920.
Flip Schulke/CORBIS
Library of Congress

1414
The Rise of the AmericanThe Rise of the American
ElectorateElectorate
 Voter Turnout: Is the decline real?Voter Turnout: Is the decline real?
• Yes: There is a decline of popular interest inYes: There is a decline of popular interest in
elections and a weakening of theelections and a weakening of the
competitiveness of the two major parties.competitiveness of the two major parties.
• No: In the 1800’s and early 1900’s votingNo: In the 1800’s and early 1900’s voting
fraud was commonplace and there were fewfraud was commonplace and there were few
serious efforts to deter this behavior. Votingserious efforts to deter this behavior. Voting
percentages were inflated.percentages were inflated.

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Figure 8.2 Voter Participation inFigure 8.2 Voter Participation in
Presidential Elections, 1860–2008Presidential Elections, 1860–2008
Note: Several southern states did not participate in the 1864 and 1868 elections.
Sources: 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 States, 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; 2004 and 2008 elections, American National Election Studies
(ANES).

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Who Participates in Politics?Who Participates in Politics?
 Forms of ParticipationForms of Participation
• InactiveInactive
• Voting specialistsVoting specialists
• CampaignersCampaigners
• CommunalistsCommunalists
• Parochial participantsParochial participants
• ActivistsActivists
 Participation: Causes and MeaningParticipation: Causes and Meaning

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Young womenYoung women
volunteers workvolunteers work
rebuilding an area inrebuilding an area in
Katrina-damagedKatrina-damaged
New Orleans, p. 192.New Orleans, p. 192.
MIKE THEILER/EPA/Landov
Kayte Deioma/PhotoEdit
In 2010 supporters of President Obama
urged people to vote, but turnout fell and
the Democrats suffered major losses.

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Figure 8.3 Voter Turnout inFigure 8.3 Voter Turnout in
Presidential ElectionsPresidential Elections
Source: Adapted from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, June
and November 2008.

Source: Professor Martin Wattenberg, University of California-Irvine, using data from the Comparative StudySource: Professor Martin Wattenberg, University of California-Irvine, using data from the Comparative Study
of Electoral Systems.of Electoral Systems.

In San Francisco, votingIn San Francisco, voting
instructions are printed ininstructions are printed in
English, Spanish, and Chinese,English, Spanish, and Chinese,
p. 194.p. 194.
Daniel Brody

2121
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M
To:To: Senator Henry GilbertSenator Henry Gilbert
From:From: Peter Clark, legislative analystPeter Clark, legislative analyst
Subject:Subject: Voting reform legislatiVoting reform legislationon
In the 1990s, barely half of the electorate voted forIn the 1990s, barely half of the electorate voted for
president, and only a third or so cast ballots forpresident, and only a third or so cast ballots for
congressional elections. In a few recent presidentialcongressional elections. In a few recent presidential
primaries and statewide special elections, turnout hasprimaries and statewide special elections, turnout has
run 10 percent or below. Studies show that oftenrun 10 percent or below. Studies show that often
citizens miss the opportunity to vote because ofcitizens miss the opportunity to vote because of
complications with work or child care. To address thiscomplications with work or child care. To address this
problem, legislators from both parties supportproblem, legislators from both parties support
celebrating Veterans Day on Election Day, whichcelebrating Veterans Day on Election Day, which
would create a national holiday for voting. Eligiblewould create a national holiday for voting. Eligible
voters who do not go to the polls would be fined.voters who do not go to the polls would be fined.Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

2222
Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. This proposal honors veterans by recognizing1. This proposal honors veterans by recognizing
their service with the fundamental requirement oftheir service with the fundamental requirement of
representative democracy, rule by the peoplerepresentative democracy, rule by the people
through voting.through voting.
2. A voting holiday ensures that people who cannot2. A voting holiday ensures that people who cannot
take off time from work or other responsibilitiestake off time from work or other responsibilities
to vote have the opportunity to exercise theirto vote have the opportunity to exercise their
democratic right.democratic right.
3. Imposing a fine for nonvoting sends a moral3. Imposing a fine for nonvoting sends a moral
message that voting is a civic duty in amessage that voting is a civic duty in a
democracy. More citizens will feel morally obligeddemocracy. More citizens will feel morally obliged
to vote if all citizens are legally obliged to do so.to vote if all citizens are legally obliged to do so.

2323
Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Just as veterans volunteer their service, so, too,1. Just as veterans volunteer their service, so, too,
should citizens volunteer to exercise theirshould citizens volunteer to exercise their
democratic responsibilities.democratic responsibilities.
2. Voting is a right, but citizens have a civic duty to2. Voting is a right, but citizens have a civic duty to
exercise that right, and the government shouldexercise that right, and the government should
not, in effect, exercise that duty on their behalf.not, in effect, exercise that duty on their behalf.
Moreover, people can vote by absentee ballot atMoreover, people can vote by absentee ballot at
their convenience.their convenience.
3. Compulsory voting does not guarantee informed3. Compulsory voting does not guarantee informed
voting. It is both unwise and undemocratic tovoting. It is both unwise and undemocratic to
legally oblige people to vote.legally oblige people to vote.

2424
Your decision:Your decision:
Vote for bill?Vote for bill?
Vote against bill?Vote against bill?

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