political participation: is the variety of activities citizens emplo y in their efforts to influence...

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: IS THE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES CITIZENS EMPLO Y IN THEIR EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE POLICY MAKING AND THE SELECTION OF LEADERS.

Who PARTICIPATES?1. Education

2. Religious Involvement

3. Race and Ethnicity

4. Age

5. Gender

6. Two party Competition

… but remember

… political cross-cutting cleavages in any demographic study

VOTING – the heart of a modern democracy

suffrage: the power to vote

1. Jacksonian Democracy

2. 15th Amendment

3. 19th Amendment

4. 26th Amendment

VOTER TURN OUT

registered v. eligible voting

USA= sucks! ?????

1. Registration is a pain

2. Too many offices … too many elections

3. Tuesdays and fixed hour voting is too inconvenient

4. Weak Political Parties = elections not “sexy”

“voter fatigue”

American elections 2014

WHY USA HAS POOR VOTER TURNOUT-

Attempts at Reform: “To Sex Up” Participation – GET OUT THE VOTE- GOTV

• “Motor Voter Law” of 1994• GOTV drives• Expanded in Person Voting hours and places• Expanded Absentee ( at home) Ballot provisions

… but all of these have not raised participation levels significantly

• GOP has offered much resistance to these “reforms”• legit criticism of such groups as ACORN• court actions to stop expanded hours and opportunities• state laws requiring stringent voter –id

Bottom Line: Registered voters vote. And you cannot vote if not registered. And in USA, the government cannot make you register.