voting in 2004 /2006pubs/p20-556.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
Voting in 2004
http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p20-556.pdf
Non-Voting
Why don’t people vote?
Why is voter turnout so low in the U.S.? “I don’t care”
“My vote doesn’t count…I’m only one person!”
“It takes too much time”
“Even if I vote, the representatives won’t respond.”
“Both of the candidates are idiots!”
“I don’t know anything about politics, the candidates, or the issues.”
“Registration is tough to do” (Only 2/3 of the voting age is registered)
Why people do not vote
“Cannot-Voters”: Those unable to vote
Actual non-voters: Those who…Believe it doesn’t make a differenceDistrust politicsHave no sense of political efficacy (own
influence or effectiveness in politics)
Voters vs. Non-Voters
Voters Higher income, education, & status Long-time residents Strong party affiliation
Non-Voters Younger than 35 Unmarried or unskilled Rural/low socio-economic status
Where and how do you vote?
Where Precincts Polling Places
When Election Day
November, every even numbered year, Tuesday after the first Monday
Who (common state laws) Age, Residency, Citizenship IL must register 30 days before
How Absentee Voting
Vote without going to the poll 20 million people in 2004 Apply for absentee ballot
Straight-ticket voting Vote for all or most candidates associated with your
party
Split-ticket voting Vote for candidates of different parties
Coattail Effect Strong candidate can attract voters to their party
http://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/welcome.aspx
Nominating Process and Candidates
Nomination- candidate selection
1. Self-Announcement2. The Caucus3. Convention4. Direct Primary
http://www.fairvote.org/?page=1801
Closed- only declared party members can vote, primary is closed to anyone else
Open- any qualified voter can cast a ballotIL- Must vote in primary of same party as last primary the voter participated
in. Loosely enforced. Voters may change party affiliation at polls or caucus.
5. Petition (local levels)
ELECTION PROCESS
FEDERAL CONTROL SET DATE, TIMES, ELECTORAL VOTES CONGRESS REQUIRES:
SECRET BALLOTS VOTING MACHINES PREVENTION OF VOTER FRAUD
HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT 2002 UPGRADE ELECTION PROCESS USE OF ELECTRONIC VOTING
TYPES OF BALLOTS
1-Australian 2-Office Group 3-Sample Ballot 4-Bedsheet Ballot 5-Electronic vote counting 6-Vote by Mail 7-On Line Voting
Money & Elections
1-Campaign Spending $2 bil for Presidential election 2004; Congressional spending $1 bil 2004 What do they spend $ on?
2-Sources of Funding Small contributors Wealthy Candidates
Ross Perot—1992 bid for Pres. Spent $65 mil
Funding Continued
Subsidies—grant of $ from the gov’tPolitical Action Committees/Special Interest
Groups Why donate?
Influence Issues Social recognition Desire for laws to be passed
HOW MUCH TO GIVE??
1-individuals $2100 for Fed. Candidate in a general election $5,000 to a PAC Limit in total $101,400
2-PAC’s special committee that seek to change public policy Usu. Associated with business, labor & professional
organizations (AMA, AFL-CIO) $15,000 to a political party $5,000 to any one candidate in an election 2004--$600 mill in presidential & congressional campaigns
Money $$$$
Soft v Hard MoneyElection $ vs. $ for “party building”Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
McCain & Feingold Ban of soft $ to political parties
http://www.opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?State=IL&Year=2006
MASS MEDIA & PUBLIC OPINION
TRYING TO INFLUENCE POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION POLLS TV INTERNET RESULTS:
GET OUT THE VOTE INFORM THE VOTER
Electoral College-
END RESULTS:Popular Vote doesn’t determine
winner of Presidential electionsELECTORAL COLLEGE DOES!Usually “winner take all” election
Need 270 to win election! Senators + Representatives=
number of electoral votes
http://www.270towin.com/
Are you an “Idiot”?“Idiot” in Greek means those who didn’t vote
or take part in public lifehttp://www.rockthevote.com/home.php