Learning Target:

Understanding voter demographics/ who votes in elections

Which party would a businessman from Texas

support?

Which party would a wealthy Hollywood actor most likely

support?

Agenda:Ch. 6 Discussion Q’s (Pairs)

2008 Voter Participation Article and Q’s

Start Ch. 6 Notes on Voting & Voter behavior

Voting Behavior in America

Why Not Vote?

• Some people are just lazy/don’t want to vote• Others believe there are just not good choices

to pick from • They have no sense of Political Efficacy

– The feeling that their vote matters

Factors to Voting

• Weather• Long lines• A long work day• Off-year election• Registered voter?• Time zone (California v.

Maryland)• Age

Chapter 6, Section 2Chapter 6, Section 2

There are three factors that States require people to meet to be eligible to vote

Citizenship

Residence• legal resident of a State for a minimum amount of

time to vote in elections

Age• The 26th Amendment- no State can set a

minimum voting age above 18

Chapter 6, Section 2Chapter 6, Section 2

• poll taxes--now forbidden by the 24th Amendment

• Literacy—a person’s ability to read or write—is no longer required in any State to vote

• Registration- process of signing up to vote (meant to stop people from voting twice)

• General Elections- voters make final decisions about candidates & issues

Registering to Vote

• Look at Michigan Voter Registration Application

• Discuss Requirements to Register to Vote

• The presidential election is always on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November (every 4 years)

How to cast a vote

• Check in with election official• Vote by pulling a lever, mark an

“x” on a paper ballot, punch a hole in a card, or touch a computer screen (different in many states)

• Absentee Ballot- vote from home & mail in (sick, out of country, etc.)

• In 2000 a confusing hole punch & drop box system may have affected the outcome in Florida which Bush defeated Gore by only 500 votes out of 10 million votes submitted

• This was controversial b/c of an unsure count

• Should the whole country use the same voting method?

• Should every county within a state use the same voting method?

• Would mailing ballots to people be a fair way to vote?

• Would Internet voting be a

fair way to vote? Why or Why not?

Becoming an Informed Voter

• What are their qualifications?

• Where do they stand on issues important to you?

• http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/409522/march-01-2012/people-who-are-destroying-america---teachers

• Get info from:–Newspapers–Radio–Internet–Speeches–TV–Debates–Public Records

What affects you at the polls?Sociological Factors

• Income & occupation: Higher incomes usually go to Republicans, lower to Democrats

• Level of education: High school vs. College• Gender: Women tend to lean Democratic• Age- older you get become more conservative• Religion• Ethnic Background: Non-whites tend to support

Democrats • Geography• Family, Friends, co-workers, etc.

Why vote?

• In recent years only about ½ of eligible voters have actually voted in presidential elections!

Psychological Factors

Party Identification• The loyalty of people to a

particular political party is the single most significant & lasting predictor of how a person will vote

Candidates and Issues• Candidates & issues are

two short-term factors that can influence even the most loyal Democrat or Republican

• People may vote out of their chosen party if they dislike a candidate or the party’s stand on a particular issue

Voters’ perceptions of their party, the candidates, and the issues

significantly affects their voting

• How good of a job do you think they will do?

• Will they get the support they need from both parties?

• Even if your candidate doesn’t win your vote still matters!

• You announce where you stand on the issues & what kind of representation you want!

• You are performing you civic duty by voting

• You have the privilege of being able to vote that most of the world does not have

• Soldiers have died since the Constitution was ratified to protect your freedoms and your ability to vote!