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Chapter#14 - Political Participation and Voting

Voting Rights Amendments

  • Fifteenth Amendment – granted African American men the right to vote.
  • Twenty-fourth Amendment – prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.
  • Jim Crow context – poll taxes were a barrier to voting; many Black citizens faced large, cumulative taxes that many could not pay.
  • Nineteenth Amendment – granted women the right to vote.
  • Twenty-Sixth Amendment – lowered the voting age from 21 to 18; ratified during the Vietnam War to channel anti-war protest into electoral participation.

International Voter Turnout Comparison

  • Turnout data are based on the number of registered voters in the last presidential/national election; some countries show compulsory voting (not always enforced).
  • Belgium* (2019): {88.4\%}
  • Sweden (2018): {87.2\%}
  • Brazil* (2018): {79.7\%}
  • South Korea (2022): {77.1\%}
  • Germany (2021): {76.6\%}
  • France (2022): {74.9\%}
  • United Kingdom (2019): {67.6\%}
  • Russia (2018): {66.2\%}
  • United States (2020): {66.2\%}
  • Spain (2019): {62.3\%}
  • Canada (2021): {56.0\%}
  • Japan (2021): (data not explicitly stated here)
  • Notes:
    • National law makes voting compulsory though not necessarily enforced.
    • *Based on provisional results as of April 11, 2022, 10:00 (CET).
    • Sources: International IDEA, French Ministry of the Interior.

Why is Voter Turnout Low?

  • Election type can affect turnout (Primary, General, Midterm).
  • Candidate attractiveness and campaign dynamics influence turnout.
  • Demographics (Age, Gender, Income, Race, Education) affect likelihood of voting.
  • Time constraints (work, school) impact ability to vote.
  • Religion and cultural factors can play a role.
  • Practical barriers: lack of transportation, accessibility, scheduling.
  • Knowledge about candidates/government relates to turnout.
  • Perceived efficacy: belief that one vote does not count.
  • Physical barriers: injury or disability.
  • State electoral laws and processes can hinder or help turnout.

Not Voting Reasons by Race and Ethnicity (Figure 3)

  • Figure presents the most common reasons cited for not voting in U.S. elections in 2022, broken down by race and ethnicity (Asian non-Hispanic, Hispanic, Other race non-Hispanic, Black non-Hispanic, White non-Hispanic).
  • Categories include:
    • Too busy, conflicting work or school schedule
    • Not interested, felt my vote wouldn’t make a difference
    • Illness or disability
    • Forgot to vote (or send in absentee ballot)
    • Out of town or away from home
  • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November Voting and Registration Supplement: 2022.
  • Note: Percentages vary across groups; the chart illustrates that time constraints and engagement levels differ by race/ethnicity.

State Electoral Laws

  • Registration requirements:
    • In many democracies, citizens are automatically registered; in the United States, registration and voting are two separate steps.
  • Felony voting restrictions:
    • A barrier to voting that has grown in importance is the restriction on voting rights for people with felony convictions.
    • Nine states permanently disenfranchise individuals with felony convictions.
  • Proof of identity:
    • 36 states require all voters to show ID at the polls.
  • Election Day timing:
    • In the U.S., elections are typically held on Tuesdays (a regular working day); many European countries vote on Sundays or holidays.

Criminal Disenfranchisement Laws (State-by-State overview)

  • The map shows categories:
    • All felons can vote
    • Voting rights restored after prison
    • Permanently disenfranchised
    • Some felons (after prison and parole)
  • Examples and notes:
    • California (CA) and Washington (WA) fall under various restoration rules; specific restoration often depends on stage of criminal justice processing (prison, parole, probation).
    • Missouri (MO) note: permanent disenfranchisement applies only for election law violations convictions.
    • Louisiana (LA) note: voting rights are not restored for those incarcerated within the last five years.
  • Source: Brennan Center.

State Electoral Reforms

  • Election-Day Registration (EDR):
    • Some states allow registering to vote on election day at the polling place; approximately a dozen states have EDR laws.
    • North Carolina and Iowa among the more recent adopters (2008).
  • Permanent Absentee Ballots:
    • Some states automatically send an absentee ballot to registered voters for every election.
  • Early voting:
    • Some states allow voting before Election Day at a polling place or by mail.
  • National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Law):
    • Aims to expedite registration and make it easier for voters.
    • Required states to allow registration when applying for driver’s licenses and Social Security benefits.

Places to Register to Vote

  • On Registration:
    • Florida Online Voter Registration System: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
  • In-Person Registration:
    • Supervisor of Elections Office (based on county)
    • Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
    • Public Libraries
    • Voter Registration Agencies
    • Community Events
    • City Halls/Government Offices

Why is it Important to Vote?

  • Your vote matters. Elections can be decided by a single vote.
  • Vote to defend your personal social agenda, safety, body, and money.
  • Vote to address global issues like climate change; environmental concerns affect everyone.
  • Honor those who fought for suffrage (women, minorities, and young adults historically denied the vote).
  • Vote for the next generation; today’s decisions impact future generations.
  • Acknowledge those who died for freedom; soldiers and civil rights workers.
  • Vote to maintain the ability to participate in civic life; otherwise you may lose the right to complain about problems.

Voting Characteristics

  • Age:
    • Older individuals are more likely to vote; reasons include less residential churn, easier re-registration.
  • Education:
    • Education correlates with turnout.
    • Example (2012): {37\%} of those with less than a high school education voted vs. {75\%} of those with a college degree or higher.
  • Psychological interest:
    • The more interested a person is in politics, the more likely they are to vote.
  • Race:
    • White non-Hispanic voters vote at higher rates than other racial groups.
    • Example (2020): {70.9\%} of White non-Hispanic; {62.6\%} Black; {59.7\%} Asian; {53.7\%} Hispanic.
  • Gender:
    • Women are more likely to vote than men.
    • Example (2016): {63\%} of women voted vs {59\%} of men.

Older Voters Turn Out at Higher Rates

  • Trend: older voting-age citizens report voting in presidential elections at higher rates than younger cohorts.
  • General pattern across years (2004-2020): the 65+ group highest, followed by 45-64, then all voters, with lower turnout among 25-44 and especially 18-24.
  • Source: Census Bureau (USA Facts).

Voter Turnout by Race and Hispanic Origin (Presidential Elections 2008-2020)

  • The trend shows differential turnout by race/ethnicity:
    • Non-Hispanic White voters have higher turnout than racial/ethnic minority groups on average.
    • Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic voters show lower turnout than White voters across the period; Non-Hispanic Asian turnout falls in between White and Black/Hispanic groups.
  • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November supplement, 2008-2020.

Gender Differences in Voter Turnout (Presidential Elections 2000-2020)

  • Women generally vote at higher rates than men across most elections.
  • Example data (illustrative pattern on chart): Women turnout consistently above men in several election years; a notable point shown is 2016 where women voted at 63% versus 59% for men.
  • Note: Voter turnout is the percent of eligible voters (citizens age 18 and older) who voted.

How Voters Decide?

  • Partisan Loyalty:
    • Longstanding affiliation with a political party often guides voting decisions.
  • Issues:
    • Voters may choose the candidate whose positions most closely align with their own views on key issues (e.g., foreign policy, immigration).
    • Some elections emphasize issues more than others (e.g., immigration in Trump’s campaign).
  • Characteristics of Candidates:
    • Voters may be influenced by superficial traits (height, name length, hair color) as well as perceived competence.

Presidents Nixon and Kennedy

  • Reference to a juxtaposition of two presidents (illustrative of contrasting eras or campaigns).

OCBS News – Chicago

  • Section header present; content not provided in transcript.