american government and organization ps1301 tuesday, 7 december
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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
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