I. Who votes?
A. 2000 Presidential election
1. 51% of the voting age
voted
2. 85% of registered voters
voted
B. Factors affecting IF we vote:
1. Age
18-24
32.4%
25-44
49.2%
45-64
64.4%
65 and older 67.0%
2. Education Level
8 yrs. or less 29.9%
9-11 yrs.
33.8%
HS diploma 49.1%
1-3 yrs college 60.5%
4 or more yrs 72.6%
3. Race
White
56%
Black
51%
Hispanic 38%
4. Why is this the case?
a. Age: older voters are more likely to be registered and have experience
voting
b. Race: race is closely related to income
1. lower income = less likely to vote
2. more blacks are poor (percentage wise when compared to whites)
3. results: blacks vote less
4. however...when whites and blacks of equal wealth are compared, blacks
vote at a higher rate = wealth is probably
the biggest factor in whether or not someone votes
C. Why people don't vote?
1. "cost of voting"
a. time (getting to the polls) and research
b. registering (Motor Voter Bill, 1993)
2. "my vote won't matter"
3. "govt doesn't listen to the voters
4. decline in party loyalty
A. partisans are 20% more likely to vote
1. partisan: believe strongly in a party
2. nonpartisan: neutral
D. Factors Affecting HOW We Vote
1. Long Term
a. Party loyalty/Ideology
2. Short Term
a. Candidate Image (TV)
b. Specific Issue
c. Party Performance
1. voters reward parties during good years and punish during the bad
Winning Elections
I. 2 steps
A. win nomination of the party
B. win general election against candidate from other
parties
II. Nonpresidential elections
A. file candidacy papers
B. compete in primary: members of party vote on
the nominee at the voting booth
1. open primary: anyone
can participate
2. closed primary: only
registered members of the party can participate
*problem with open primary:
sabotage is possible b/c members of one party can crossover and attempt
to help nominate a weaker candidate
from their opponents'
party