American American Government and Government and

OrganizationOrganizationPS1301PS1301

Tuesday, 7 DecemberTuesday, 7 December

Types of ReformsTypes of Reforms

Increase Convenience, Reduce CostsIncrease Convenience, Reduce Costs Liberalize Absentee LawsLiberalize Absentee Laws Vote only by MailVote only by Mail Same day registrationSame day registration Compulsory voting (increase costs of not voting)Compulsory voting (increase costs of not voting)

Increase Voting Efficacy – make people feel better Increase Voting Efficacy – make people feel better about votingabout voting

Term limitsTerm limits Change Electoral System (to PR)Change Electoral System (to PR)

Intended ConsequencesIntended Consequences

Increase overall turnoutIncrease overall turnout Reduce inequalitiesReduce inequalities Improve efficacyImprove efficacy Enhance legitimacyEnhance legitimacy

Voting by MailVoting by Mail

OregonOregon Already high proportion of absentee votingAlready high proportion of absentee voting

Makes voting more convenientMakes voting more convenient Does it increase turnout?Does it increase turnout?

Sometimes – (in low saliency elections)Sometimes – (in low saliency elections) Among which groups does it increase Among which groups does it increase

turnout?turnout? What is likely effect of Internet voting?What is likely effect of Internet voting?

Comparing Turnout in Vote only by Mail Comparing Turnout in Vote only by Mail and Polling Place Elections (1986-2000)and Polling Place Elections (1986-2000)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Presidential MidtermGeneral

PresidentialPrimary

MidtermPrimary

SpecialStatewide

(ballotmeasures)

Local RacesCandidates and

Issues

Polling Place Vote Only by Mail

Registration Registration RequirementsRequirements

Same day registration MN, ME, WI, ID, NH, WY

No registration North Dakota

30 days prior to elections Alaska, Arkansas, Dist. of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania

Between 15 – 29 days before election California, Kansas, South Dakota, Delaware, Massachusetts, Utah, West Virginia, Maryland, Oregon, New York, North, Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Virginia, Colorado, Vermont

Other registration Other registration requirementsrequirements

Must be resident of state in which you register Must be resident of state in which you register (sometime municipality)(sometime municipality) E.g. Utah requires must be a resident for 30 days E.g. Utah requires must be a resident for 30 days

prior to electionprior to election Texas requirementsTexas requirements

Must be resident of co. in which apply for Must be resident of co. in which apply for registrationregistration

Must be 17 and 10 months to register and 18 to Must be 17 and 10 months to register and 18 to votevote

Must not be finally convicted of a felony. May Must not be finally convicted of a felony. May register if pardoned, after discharge from register if pardoned, after discharge from correction institution, or after period of probation.correction institution, or after period of probation.

Registration Requirements Registration Requirements and Turnoutand Turnout

Registration seen as a barrier to higher turnout; Registration seen as a barrier to higher turnout; Reforms intended to relax registration Reforms intended to relax registration requirementsrequirements

National Voter Registration Act, 1993 (Motor National Voter Registration Act, 1993 (Motor Voter Bill)Voter Bill) mandating states to offer on- the-spot voter registration mandating states to offer on- the-spot voter registration

at various government agencies at various government agencies Same Day RegistrationSame Day Registration

The six states with same-day registration (MN, ME, WI, The six states with same-day registration (MN, ME, WI, ID, NH, WY) in general have higher levels of turnoutID, NH, WY) in general have higher levels of turnout

If campaign becomes close/interesting in final 30 days, If campaign becomes close/interesting in final 30 days, citizens do not have chance to registercitizens do not have chance to register

But concern about voter fraudBut concern about voter fraud

Compulsory VotingCompulsory Voting

Examples of Countries:Examples of Countries: Australia (1924)Australia (1924) GreeceGreece Belgium (1892)Belgium (1892) LuxembourgLuxembourg MexicoMexico Netherlands (1917-1967)Netherlands (1917-1967)

Belgium and Australia have strict Belgium and Australia have strict enforcement, Mexico and Greece enforcement, Mexico and Greece weakweak

Impact of Compulsory Impact of Compulsory Voting on Turnout in Voting on Turnout in

AustraliaAustralia

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

10019

01

1906

1913

1917

1922

1928

1931

1937

1943

1949

1954

1958

1963

1969

1974

1977

1983

1987

1993

1998

First Compulsory Voting Election

Sanctions for non-voting in Sanctions for non-voting in compulsory voting compulsory voting

countriescountries The numbers listed in the column for Type of Sanction stands for different The numbers listed in the column for Type of Sanction stands for different

types of sanctions. These are as follows:types of sanctions. These are as follows: 1. Explanation. The non-voter has to provide a legitimate reason for his/her 1. Explanation. The non-voter has to provide a legitimate reason for his/her

abstention to avoid further sanctions, if any exist. abstention to avoid further sanctions, if any exist. 2. Fine. The amount varies between the countries, for example 3 Swiss 2. Fine. The amount varies between the countries, for example 3 Swiss

Francs in Swtzerland, between 300 and 3 000 ATS in Austria, Francs in Swtzerland, between 300 and 3 000 ATS in Austria, 3. Possible imprisonment. The non-voter may face imprisonment as a 3. Possible imprisonment. The non-voter may face imprisonment as a

sanction, however, we do not know of any documented cases. This can also sanction, however, we do not know of any documented cases. This can also happen in countries such as Australia where a fine sanction is common. happen in countries such as Australia where a fine sanction is common.

4. Infringements of civil rights or disenfranchisement. It is for example 4. Infringements of civil rights or disenfranchisement. It is for example possible that the non-voter, after not voting in at least four elections within possible that the non-voter, after not voting in at least four elections within 15 years will be disenfranchised in Belgium. In Bolivia the voter is given a 15 years will be disenfranchised in Belgium. In Bolivia the voter is given a card when he/she has voted so that he/she can proof the participation. The card when he/she has voted so that he/she can proof the participation. The voter would not be able to receive his/her salary from the bank if he/she voter would not be able to receive his/her salary from the bank if he/she can not show the proof of voting during three months after the election.can not show the proof of voting during three months after the election.

5. Other. For example in Belgium it might be difficult getting a job within 5. Other. For example in Belgium it might be difficult getting a job within the public sector if you are non-voter, or difficulties obtaining a new the public sector if you are non-voter, or difficulties obtaining a new passport or driver's license in Greece. There are no formal sanctions passport or driver's license in Greece. There are no formal sanctions Mexico or Italy but possible arbitrary or social sanctions. This is called the Mexico or Italy but possible arbitrary or social sanctions. This is called the "innocuous sanction" in Italy, where it might for example be difficult to get "innocuous sanction" in Italy, where it might for example be difficult to get a daycare place for your child or similar but this is not formalised in any a daycare place for your child or similar but this is not formalised in any way at all. way at all.

Turnout Before and After Electoral Turnout Before and After Electoral System Change in New Zealand System Change in New Zealand

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999

First PR Election

Referendum on the Electoral System