Political ParticipationPolitical Participation

Who Votes?Who Votes?

AndAnd

Who Do They Vote For?Who Do They Vote For?

Where Does Information Come Where Does Information Come From?From?

Political scientists do not have actual Political scientists do not have actual data on either voter turnout or vote data on either voter turnout or vote choicechoice Australian BallotAustralian Ballot

Most of what we know about turnout Most of what we know about turnout and vote choice come from either and vote choice come from either surveys or exit pollssurveys or exit polls

SurveysSurveys

One question many election surveys One question many election surveys ask is whether the respondent ask is whether the respondent intends to vote (if before the intends to vote (if before the election) or whether the respondent election) or whether the respondent actually voted (if after the election)actually voted (if after the election)

Misreport problemMisreport problem ““Social desirability”Social desirability”

Exit PollsExit Polls

Polls conducted at voting locations to Polls conducted at voting locations to collect better information about collect better information about votersvoters

Pollster randomly asks voters to fill Pollster randomly asks voters to fill out brief questionnairesout brief questionnaires

These questionnaires ask questions These questionnaires ask questions about vote choice as well as many about vote choice as well as many questions about demographicsquestions about demographics

Fundamental Paradox of Fundamental Paradox of ParticipationParticipation

Higher education leads to higher Higher education leads to higher participationparticipation

Americans are more educated today than Americans are more educated today than they were in the pastthey were in the past

Higher registration leads to higher Higher registration leads to higher participationparticipation

More Americans are registered to voteMore Americans are registered to vote

*** Why has turnout declined?*** Why has turnout declined?

Impact of Voter TurnoutImpact of Voter Turnout

Elderly voters turn out at the highest Elderly voters turn out at the highest raterate Social SecuritySocial Security MedicareMedicare

Young voters turn out at the lowest rateYoung voters turn out at the lowest rate ““Young” issues are neglected at the Young” issues are neglected at the

expense of othersexpense of others ““20 Million Loud”20 Million Loud”

Demographic Factors and Vote Demographic Factors and Vote ChoiceChoice

2000 Election Exit Polls2000 Election Exit Polls

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/epolls/US/P000.htmlepolls/US/P000.html

Increasing Voter TurnoutIncreasing Voter Turnout

Should we increase voter turnout?Should we increase voter turnout?

How could we increase voter How could we increase voter turnout?turnout?