2.3 Defining Political Engagement

Check your understanding

Political Engagement

-When people take action about a public problem through political means

-e.g; voting, engaging in elective politics, attending marches or rallies, contacting elected representatives to advocate for a specific cause

Voting

When someone casts a ballot for a political candidate or a public policy issue through an official election

Voting Rights Act of 1965

a federal act that protects the rights of minority voters by prohibiting state laws that denied voting rights based on race

Voter Registration

-Voters must register to vote in the state in which they live

-may involve checking a box on a drivers license app or filling out a form

-in order to be eligible to vote in the U.S a person must be a citizen, resident and 18 years old; states often place additional requirements

Voter Turnout

-Can be calculated in different ways:

• Looking at the percentage of the voting-age population that did vote

• percentage of the voting-eligible population that voted

• the percentage of registered voters who voted

Factors that Affect Voter Turnout

• whether citizens are registered to vote

• characteristics such as gender, race, age, voter photo identification laws

• number of polling places

• if mail-in voting is permitted

• apathy or its opposite

• a deep interest in a policy issue or candidate

Running for Political Office

-Often involves collecting signatures on a form or paying a registration fee

-potential candidate still needs to meet state-specific requirements covering length of residency, voting status and age

Protesting

-An organized protest involves a group expressing their opinion about a particular policy, public figure or social problem in a public manner