voter turnout accounting for voter turnout demographic socioeconomic psychological
DESCRIPTION
Family Income Turnout rises sharply from low to middle income levels. Socioeconomic CharacteristicsTRANSCRIPT
Voter Voter TurnoutTurnout
Accounting for Voter Accounting for Voter TurnoutTurnout
DemographicDemographicSocioeconomicSocioeconomic
PsychologicalPsychological
EducationEducation increases increases one’s capacity for one’s capacity for understanding understanding complex and intangible complex and intangible subjects such as subjects such as politics, as well as politics, as well as encouraging the ethic encouraging the ethic of civic responsibility.of civic responsibility.
Socioeconomic Socioeconomic CharacteristicsCharacteristics
0 to
8 Y
ears
9 to
11
Year
s
Hig
h Sc
hool
Gra
duat
e
Som
e C
olle
ge
Col
lege
Gra
duat
e
Hig
her D
egre
e
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
56
47
73
8591
95Voter Turnout by Education
Hig
her D
egre
e
Family Income Family Income Turnout rises Turnout rises sharply from low to sharply from low to middle income middle income levels.levels.
$0 to
$9,
999
$10,
000
to $
19,9
99
$20,
000
to $
29,9
99
$30,
000
to $
39,0
00
$40,
000
to $
49,9
99
$50,
000
to $
74,9
99
$75,
000
and
Ove
r
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
55
6872
8288 88 89
Voter Turnout by Income
Socioeconomic Socioeconomic CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Occupational Occupational Status Status Turnout Turnout rises sharply from rises sharply from unskilled laborers to unskilled laborers to white collar or white collar or professional jobs.professional jobs.
Socioeconomic Socioeconomic CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Prof
essi
onal
Man
ager
s/Te
chni
cal
Sale
s/C
leric
al
Serv
ice
Skill
ed L
abor
Uns
kille
d La
bor
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
10090 88
82
7368
61
Voter Turnout by Education
Race & Race & EthnicityEthnicityThe lower average The lower average education and education and incomes of racial incomes of racial and ethnic groups and ethnic groups reduce the reduce the likelihood that likelihood that members of these members of these groups will vote.groups will vote.
Demographic Demographic CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Whi
te
Afr
ican
Am
eric
an
His
pani
c A
mer
ican
Asi
an A
mer
ican
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
7871
61 58
Voter Turnout by Race/Ethnicity
AgeAgeAs people grow older, As people grow older, they gain knowledge they gain knowledge and other resources and other resources that make that make participation easier. participation easier. Community ties such Community ties such as home ownership, as home ownership, marriage, and children marriage, and children develop with age.develop with age.
Demographic Demographic CharacteristicsCharacteristics
18 to
25
26 to
35
36 to
45
46 to
55
56 to
65
Ove
r 66
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
56
7480 83 85 81
Voter Turnout by Age
GenderGenderSince the “Women’s Since the “Women’s Movement” in the Movement” in the 1960, women started 1960, women started to vote at the same to vote at the same rate as men. Since rate as men. Since 1984, white women 1984, white women have often voted at a have often voted at a slightly higher rate slightly higher rate than white men in than white men in presidential elections.presidential elections.
Demographic Demographic CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Men
Wom
en
0
10
2030
4050
60
7080
90100
77 76
Voter Turnout by Gender
Party Party IdentificationIdentificationPeople who identify People who identify strongly with one of strongly with one of the political parties the political parties are more likely to are more likely to show up at the polls show up at the polls on Election Day on Election Day than weak than weak identifiers or identifiers or independents.independents.
Psychological CharacteristicsPsychological CharacteristicsSt
rong
Iden
tifie
rs
Wea
k Id
entif
iers
Lean
ing
Inde
pend
ents
Pure
Inde
pend
ents
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
88
76 74
61
Voter Turnout by Party Identification
EfficacyEfficacyThe feeling that one The feeling that one can have an effect on can have an effect on politics and political politics and political decision makers – also decision makers – also motivates people to motivates people to vote. Those who feel vote. Those who feel ineffective view voting ineffective view voting and other types of and other types of political participation political participation as wasted efforts.as wasted efforts.
Psychological Psychological CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Low
Med
ium
Hig
h
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
65
7985
Voter Turnout by Efficacy
Interest in Interest in PoliticsPoliticsPeople who have an People who have an interest in politics and interest in politics and follow it in newspapers follow it in newspapers and magazines are also and magazines are also more likely to vote than more likely to vote than those who are not those who are not interested and who do interested and who do not follow politics in the not follow politics in the print media.print media.
Very
Muc
h
Som
ewha
t
Not
Muc
h
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100 91
75
44
Voter Turnout by Interest
Psychological Psychological CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Interest in Interest in PoliticsPoliticsThose who read Those who read about politics about politics learn a good deal; learn a good deal; those who only those who only watch television watch television do not.do not.
Rea
d
Did
Not
Rea
d
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
10089
68
Voter Turnout by Interest
Psychological Psychological CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Group ConsciousnessGroup ConsciousnessIdentification with one’s Identification with one’s social group (for instance, social group (for instance, black consciousness, gender black consciousness, gender groups, issues groups, etc.) groups, issues groups, etc.) are more likely to participate are more likely to participate in elections.in elections.
Psychological Psychological CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Trust in GovernmentTrust in GovernmentOne’s attitude of trust One’s attitude of trust toward government seems toward government seems to have little or no influence to have little or no influence on voter turnout.on voter turnout.
Psychological Psychological CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Geographic CharacteristicsGeographic Characteristics
New
Eng
land
/Mid
Atla
ntic
Nor
th C
entr
al
Sout
h
Bor
der
Wes
t
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
80 82
68 66
82
Voter Turnout by Region
Registration LawsRegistration Laws
The more difficult and time The more difficult and time consuming it is to vote, the less consuming it is to vote, the less likely people are to do so.likely people are to do so.1. Almost all industrial 1. Almost all industrial democracies have automatic voter democracies have automatic voter registration.registration.2. Many industrialized 2. Many industrialized democracies have a system of democracies have a system of compulsory voting.compulsory voting.
Registration in the United Registration in the United StatesStates
Closing DateClosing DatePoll TaxesPoll TaxesLiteracy TestsLiteracy TestsIntimidationIntimidation
Campaign ContactsCampaign ContactsEfforts to mobilize votersEfforts to mobilize voters• • Party Campaigns (Soft Party Campaigns (Soft Money)Money)• • Nonpartisan Interest GroupsNonpartisan Interest Groups
Oregon Mail-In VoteOregon Mail-In Vote• • Government StrategiesGovernment Strategies
Oregon Mail-In VoteOregon Mail-In VoteTexas Two-Week VoteTexas Two-Week VoteMotor Voter Act of 1993Motor Voter Act of 1993
Attempts to Increase Voter Attempts to Increase Voter TurnoutTurnout
Australian Australian
BallotBallot19th 19th AmendmentAmendment
15th 15th AmendmentAmendment
26th 26th AmendmentAmendment
Motor-Voter Law
Motor-Voter Law
POLITICAL ACTIVISTSPOLITICAL ACTIVISTS
11%
22%
21%15%
20%
4% 7%Complete Activists
Complete Inactivists
Voter Specialists
Campaigners
Communalists
Parochial Participants
Unclassified
Complete Inactives
Complete Activist Complete Activist Participate in every way possible1111
%% Complete Inactivist Complete Inactivist Do not participate; not even in voting2222
%%Voting Specialist Voting Specialist They do nothing but vote2121
%% Communalist Communalist Avoid the conflict of campaigns - focus on civic and charitable groups
2020%%Parochial Participants Parochial Participants Only became involved after contact with a public official to solve a problem
4%4%
How Voters Make How Voters Make ChoicesChoices
• • Party IdentificationParty Identification• • Candidate CharacteristicsCandidate Characteristics• • IssuesIssues• • Changes Over TimeChanges Over Time• • Social GroupsSocial Groups
This is more than an emotional or This is more than an emotional or psychological attachments; it is a psychological attachments; it is a way in which people think of way in which people think of themselves and an influence on themselves and an influence on how they behave.how they behave.Perceptual Screens are used to Perceptual Screens are used to judge candidates. judge candidates.
Party IdentificationParty Identification
The candidates’ personalities, The candidates’ personalities, experiences, past records, and experiences, past records, and even their physical appearances even their physical appearances make up this set of voting make up this set of voting influences.influences.Some voters are influenced by Some voters are influenced by irrational prejudices.irrational prejudices.
Candidate Candidate CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Issues lie at the heart of democratic Issues lie at the heart of democratic elections. Although few people lack elections. Although few people lack the knowledge of public policy, the knowledge of public policy, issues still do affect campaigns and issues still do affect campaigns and elections.elections.Retrospective Issue VotingRetrospective Issue Voting - - deciding how deciding how
to vote on past policy outcomes.to vote on past policy outcomes.
IssuesIssues
Prospective Issue VotingProspective Issue Voting - - deciding deciding how to vote on the basis of a candidate’s how to vote on the basis of a candidate’s likely future policies.likely future policies.
Sociotropic Voters - People who Sociotropic Voters - People who vote on the basis of their vote on the basis of their community’s economic interests, community’s economic interests, rather than their personal rather than their personal economic interestseconomic interests
IssuesIssuesRetrospective Issue Voting - Retrospective Issue Voting - deciding how to vote on past policy deciding how to vote on past policy outcomes.outcomes.
Prospective Issue Voting - deciding how Prospective Issue Voting - deciding how to vote on the basis of a candidate’s to vote on the basis of a candidate’s likely future policies.likely future policies.In order for an issue to play any role in a voter’s In order for an issue to play any role in a voter’s decision, the voter must:decision, the voter must:
1. be aware of the issue and have an opinion on 1. be aware of the issue and have an opinion on it;it;
2. have some idea about what the government 2. have some idea about what the government is is currently doing on that issue;currently doing on that issue;
3. see a difference between the policies the two 3. see a difference between the policies the two candidates propose in response to the issue.candidates propose in response to the issue.
Researchers suggest the following criteria for issue Researchers suggest the following criteria for issue voting. An issue can influence someone’s vote if the voting. An issue can influence someone’s vote if the voter:voter:
1. can place himself/herself on the scale;1. can place himself/herself on the scale;
2. can place both candidates on the scale;2. can place both candidates on the scale;
3. sees a difference between the candidates;3. sees a difference between the candidates;
4. correctly places Democratic candidates to the left of 4. correctly places Democratic candidates to the left of Republican candidates.Republican candidates.
Government Government should ensure should ensure jobs and good jobs and good living standardliving standard
Government Government should let each should let each
person go person go aheadahead
11 22 33 44 55 66 77
Easy IssuesEasy IssuesSimple issues that allow voters to make quick, Simple issues that allow voters to make quick, emotional decisions without much information. emotional decisions without much information. (E.g. crime, abortion, drugs.)(E.g. crime, abortion, drugs.)
Hard IssuesHard IssuesComplicated issues that require voters to have Complicated issues that require voters to have information about the policy and to spend time information about the policy and to spend time considering their choices.considering their choices.(E.g. federal budget, foreign policy, health (E.g. federal budget, foreign policy, health care.)care.)
The relative importance of party The relative importance of party identification, candidate characteristics, and identification, candidate characteristics, and issues may change from one election to the issues may change from one election to the next.next.
Factor which may change voter decisions:Factor which may change voter decisions:1. Dramatic events such as war or recession1. Dramatic events such as war or recession2. Issue campaigns and ideological conflicts2. Issue campaigns and ideological conflicts3. Campaigns which focus on character or 3. Campaigns which focus on character or scandal.scandal.
Changes Over Changes Over TimeTime
1. Family Income1. Family Income2. Education2. Education3. Union 3. Union HouseholdHousehold4. Race/Ethnicity4. Race/Ethnicity
Social GroupsSocial GroupsThe following social groups have The following social groups have significant impact on elections:significant impact on elections:
5. Religion5. Religion6. Gender6. Gender7. Ideology7. Ideology