Chapter 6 Section 4: Voter Behavior

What type of election years have the highest voter turnout?

Presidential Election Years.

What is "ballot fatigue"?

Voters lose their patience and/or knowledge as they work their way down the ballot.

What is the largest group of "cannot-voters"?

Resident Aliens

Why do some nonvoters deliberately choose to not vote?

They think that their votes will not have an effect on government.

What is "time-zone fallout"?

The news media predicts election winners when the polls in the East and Midwest close, resulting in lower vote turn out in the West, where the polls are still open.

What is the chief reason that most nonvoters do not vote?

Lack of interest.

How does the level of income affect the likelihood of whether people do or do not vote?

People with higher incomes are more likely to vote than people with lower incomes.

How does occupation affect the likelihood of whether people do or do not vote?

People with higher status occupations are more likely to vote.

How does education affect the likelihood of whether people do or do not vote?

Better-educated people are more likely to vote than those with less education.

How does age affect the likelihood of whether people do or do not vote?

People under 35 are less likely to vote than older people.

How does gender affect the likelihood of whether people do or do not vote?

Women are more likely to vote than men.

How does party identification affect the likelihood of whether people do or do not vote?

People with a strong party identification are more likely to vote than people with a weak party identification.

How does income/occupation influence whether people are more likely to vote Democrat?

Lower status, lower income.

How does income/occupation influence whether people are more likely to vote Republican?

Higher status, higher income.

How does education influence whether people are more likely to vote Democrat?

Less educated.

How does education influence whether people are more likely to vote Republican?

More educated.

How does gender/age influence whether people are more likely to vote Democrat?

Women/younger.

How does gender/age influence whether people are more likely to vote Republican?

Men/older.

How does religion influence whether people are more likely to vote Democrat?

Catholics, Jews.

How does religion influence whether people are more likely to vote Republican?

Protestants.

How does ethnicity influence whether people are more likely to vote Democrat?

African American, other nonwhites, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans.

How does ethnicity influence whether people are more likely to vote Republican?

Whites, Cuban Latinos.

How does geography influence whether people are more likely to vote Democrat?

Many southern states and big cities.

How does geography influence whether people are more likely to vote Republican?

Maine, Vermont, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakoda, South Dakoda; suburbs.

Off-year election.

General elections in the United States that are held in odd-numbered years.

Political efficacy.

One's own influence or effectiveness in politics

Political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

gender gap

measurable differences between the partisan choices of men and women today

party identification

loyalty to people of a party

straight-ticket voting

the practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an election

split-ticket voting

voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

independents

people who have no party affiliation