26K26KThings that influence Voters:Things that influence Voters:

Nonvoters:Nonvoters: Cannot voters (otherwise voting) Cannot voters (otherwise voting)Suddenly had to travel on voting daysSuddenly had to travel on voting daysAre resident aliens (barred from the polls)Are resident aliens (barred from the polls)Are so ill or disabled that it is not possible for Are so ill or disabled that it is not possible for them to votethem to voteIn mental health facilitiesIn mental health facilitiesCannot vote due to religious beliefsCannot vote due to religious beliefsIn jailIn jail

Many people do not vote because they Many people do not vote because they believe that their vote makes little to no believe that their vote makes little to no difference.difference.

Others don’t because they have no sense Others don’t because they have no sense of political efficiency - lack influence or of political efficiency - lack influence or reason to vote.reason to vote.

Long Lines, inconvenient registration Long Lines, inconvenient registration requirements, and bad weather can also requirements, and bad weather can also push voters away.push voters away.

The people who are most The people who are most likely to vote:likely to vote:

Higher levels of incomeHigher levels of income Higher educationHigher education Higher occupational statusHigher occupational status Are well integrated into community lifeAre well integrated into community life Long time residentsLong time residents Strong sense of party identificationStrong sense of party identification Live in areas where laws, customs, and Live in areas where laws, customs, and

competition between parties promote competition between parties promote turnoutturnout..

The People most likely not to The People most likely not to vote:vote:

Under the age of 35Under the age of 35 UnmarriedUnmarried Unskilled Unskilled Living in the south / rural areasLiving in the south / rural areas

*Women are more likely to vote than *Women are more likely to vote than men.*men.*

Voting Influences:Voting Influences: IncomeIncome People in lower income brackets and People in lower income brackets and

those who work manual jobs tend to vote those who work manual jobs tend to vote Democrat. (Blue Collar)Democrat. (Blue Collar)

People in higher income brackets, People in higher income brackets, professionals and business people tend to professionals and business people tend to be Republicans.be Republicans.

Education:Education:

College graduates vote Republican in higher College graduates vote Republican in higher percentages than high school graduates. percentages than high school graduates.

High School graduates vote Republican more High School graduates vote Republican more than those who have just gone through grad than those who have just gone through grad school.school.

Religious or Ethnic background:Religious or Ethnic background: Protestants tend to be Republicans Protestants tend to be Republicans Catholics and Jews tend to be Catholics and Jews tend to be

DemocratsDemocrats African Americans usually vote African Americans usually vote Democrat as do Latinos. Democrat as do Latinos.

26L26LMass Media in American PoliticsMass Media in American Politics

PropagandaPropaganda A technique of persuasion aimed at influencing A technique of persuasion aimed at influencing

individual or group behaviors.individual or group behaviors. Goal is to create a particular belief that may be Goal is to create a particular belief that may be

completely true or completely false.completely true or completely false. Propagandists are advertisers, persuaders, and Propagandists are advertisers, persuaders, and

occasionally even brainwashersoccasionally even brainwashers They influence others to agree with their point of They influence others to agree with their point of

view.view. Mass Media in this country encouraged Mass Media in this country encouraged

propaganda in the field of commercial advertising propaganda in the field of commercial advertising then politicsthen politics..

Public Agenda:Public Agenda:

Societal problemsSocietal problems Influence public optionsInfluence public options Politicians pay close attention to how the Politicians pay close attention to how the

media reacts to different things.media reacts to different things.

Electoral PoliticsElectoral Politics::

Allows politicians to directly Allows politicians to directly appeal to the mediaappeal to the media

Media image influences Media image influences votingvoting

PollsPolls Straw Vote:Straw Vote: Polls that sought to read the publics Polls that sought to read the publics

mind simply by asking the same mind simply by asking the same question to a large amount of people.question to a large amount of people.

Scientific Polling:Scientific Polling: Designed to avoid errors Designed to avoid errors There are now more than 1000 national There are now more than 1000 national

and regional polling organizations in his and regional polling organizations in his country.country.

The MediaThe Media There are four major ways the public There are four major ways the public

receives its information.receives its information. 1. T.V.1. T.V. 2. Internet 2. Internet 3. Newspaper/Magazines 4. Radio3. Newspaper/Magazines 4. Radio