ELECTION LESSONS FROM THE

COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION

LESSON 3: VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

VISUALS

• Discussion Questions1. Did everyone who was eligible to vote in the last

presidential election actually vote?

2. If the right to vote is so important, why do some people choose not to vote?

VISUAL 3.1THE COSTS OF VOTING1. Dollar costs. No dollar costs may be imposed by fees or taxation. Amendment

24 to the U.S. Constitution rules out dollar costs:

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

2. Other costs. While the Constitution prohibits monetary charges, this does not mean that voting is entirely without costs. Voters will incur opportunity costs. The opportunity cost of voting is what a voter gives up in choosing to vote. Here are some possible opportunity costs:

• Time taken to register• Time to find a voting location, or to vote via absentee ballot.• Time taken to vote, which may also mean lost wages for voters who

miss work; or babysitting or transportation costs.• Time needed to investigate candidates and issues.

LESSON 3 – VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

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Reason All 18-24

10. Inconvenient Polling Place

9. Transportation Problems

10. Forgot

11. Don’t Know/Refused to Answer

12. Registration Problems

13. Out of Town

14. Didn’t Like the Candidates

15. Not Interested

16. Illness or Disability

1. Too Busy

In 2008, citizens aged 18-24 made up 12.6% of the voting age population, but only 9.3% of the voters.

LESSON 3 – VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

VISUAL 3.2TOP TEN REASONS REGISTERED VOTERS GAVE FOR NOT VOTING IN 2008

ELECTION LESSONS © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY

2.7%

2.8%

2.8%

7.0%

8.0%

8.8%

12.9%

13.4%

14.9%

17.8%

2.8%

2.4%

4.5%

11.2%

9.0%

14.2%

8.0%

12.1%

3.2%

21.0%

VISUAL 3.3WHY DO PEOPLE VOTE?

When the election result is likely to be close and a person’s vote may change the election result:

o People may vote to support a particular politician.o People may vote to remove incumbents (“Throw the rascals out”).

When the election is not likely to be close and a person’s vote is not likely to change the election result.

o People may believe it is their civic duty to vote.o People may vote to voice their opinions regardless of the likely outcome.o People may vote in order to feel that they are part of the winning team.

LESSON 3 – VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

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Men or Women

White or Black or Asian

Naturalized Citizen or Native Born

Married or Never Married

Separated or Divorced

Low Income or High Income

Employed or Unemployed

H.S. Degree or Bachelor’s Degree

Minnesotan or Floridian or Hawaiian

Veteran or Non-Veteran

Renter or Homeowner

Young (18-24) or Old (45-64)

Women 65.7 to 61.5

White 66.1 - Black 64.7 - Asian 47.6

Native 64.4 to 54

Married 69.9 to 53.5

Divorced 59 to 53.5

High Income 91.8 to 51.9

Employed 65.9 to 54.7

Bachelor’s Degree 77 to 54.9

MN. 75 - FL. 63.8 - HI. 51.8

Veteran 70.9 to 62.8

Homeowner 67.8 to 51.6

Old 69 to 49

VISUAL 3.4WHO VOTES MORE? WEIGH THE COSTS AND BENEFITS…

Of all citizens, who voted most, percentage-wise, in the 2008 presidential election?

LESSON 3 – VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

ELECTION LESSONS © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY

DEBRIEFING

Who do you think politicians will pay more attention to during an election?

What can be done to lower the opportunity cost of voting so more people can vote?

Pay people to vote…

Mandatory voting….

Advertising campaign by government…

LESSON 3 – VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

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YEAR VOTERS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE U.S. CITIZEN VOTING–AGE

POPULATION

1980 64.0

1984 64.9

1988 62.2

1992 67.7

1996 58.4

2000 59.5

2004 63.8

2008 63.6

VISUAL 3.5REPORTING VOTING, 1980-2008

LESSON 3 – VOTERS AND ELECTIONS

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Follow up Questions:1. Sue is paid an hourly wage of $10. Shepunches a time clock every day. Sam ispaid an annual salary of $140,000 a year.He is allowed to take off two hours a dayfor lunch. For Sam and Sue, it will taketwo hours to vote. Sam votes on his lunchbreak, while Sue takes off work two hoursearly to get to the polls. What can be saidabout the costs and benefits of voting forthese two citizens?A. Sue values voting more than Sam.B. Sam values voting more than Sue.C. Sue’s opportunity cost in terms oflost wages is higher than Sam’s.D. Sam’s opportunity cost in terms of lostwages is higher than Sue’s.

2. Which is not an opportunity cost of votingin a U.S. federal election?A. A fee charged for votingB. Wages lost while votingC. Time taken to learn about the candidatesand their positions on issuesD. Gasoline used to drive to the polls