Conventional Political Participation

Political Participation

What is Electoral Participation?

  • Definition: The range of activities by which individuals attempt to affect the outcome of elections.

  • Types of Activities: Includes both partisan and nonpartisan activities.

  • Examples of Electoral Participation:

    • Voting: Most common form of participation.

    • Attempting to Persuade Others: Engaging in discussions to influence peers.

    • Working for a Campaign:

    • Door-to-door Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts.

    • Making phone calls to potential voters.

    • Mailing postcards to raise awareness or prompt turnout.

    • Contributing Money: Financial contributions to campaigns or political causes.

Political Participation Beyond Elections

  • Political participation extends beyond electoral activities.

    • Changing Policies: Engaging in activism or advocacy to influence legislation or regulations.

    • Influencing Elected Officials: Lobbying or communicating with representatives to push for certain agendas.

    • Increasing Social Awareness of a Problem: Raising public consciousness regarding specific socio-political issues.

    • Overthrowing Governments: Engaging in revolutionary activities to change or replace government structures.

Conventional vs. Unconventional Participation

  • Conventional Participation:

    • Refers to widely accepted political activities that are recognized as legitimate.

    • Characteristics:

    • Works within established institutions.

    • Follows recognized norms.

    • Tends to be structured, institutionalized, and non-disruptive.

  • Unconventional Participation:

    • Contemplates actions that fall outside the accepted political channels.

    • Examples may include protests, civil disobedience, or other forms of activism.

Four Dimensions of Electoral Participation

  1. Frequency of Activity:

    • How often the electoral activity can be performed by individuals.

  2. Personal Resources Required:

    • The personal capacities (time, energy, etc.) required to engage in the activity.

  3. Collaboration vs. Individuality:

    • Whether the activity is conducted individually or collectively with others.

  4. Information Conveyed:

    • How much information the activity reveals concerning citizens’ preferences, needs, and desires.

Participatory Distortion

  • Definition: Participatory distortion happens when a group of citizens whose preferences do not align with the general public have an outsized influence on the political process.

  • Comparison: Examination of how voters differ fundamentally from non-voters.

Comparing Participation in the US to Other Countries

  • US Election Turnout Rankings:

    • Ranks 31st out of 76 countries for turnout in presidential elections from 2004 to 2020.

    • Ranks 113th out of 114 in midterm elections compared to parliamentary systems.

  • Political Attachment:

    • Americans exhibit a stronger attachment to their political parties compared to other nations.

    • Many Americans believe their opinions impact politicians and the government.

  • Differences in Electoral Rules:

    • Voting is non-compulsory in the US, contrasting with other nations.

    • Election Day is not a public holiday in the US.

    • Fewer party options available to voters in the US.

Why Do People Participate in Campaigns and Elections?

Individual Factors

  1. Ability:

    • Legally permitted to vote (e.g., must be 18 years old, a citizen, non-felon, and registered).

    • Must know how to participate (e.g., understand registration, polling locations, absentee ballots).

  2. Motivation:

    • Political Efficacy: Belief in the importance of one’s voice and that participation effects change.

    • Interest in Politics: Generally favors participation for intrinsically motivated individuals.

    • Civic Duty: The sense of responsibility to participate in the democratic process.

    • Peer Pressure: Social influences encouraging involvement.

Contextual Factors

  1. Campaign Activities to GOTV:

    • Efforts undertaken to encourage voter turnout.

  2. Competitiveness of the Election:

    • Elections perceived as closely contested may motivate higher turnout.

  3. Legal Impediments to Voting:

    • Registration hurdles.

    • Voter ID laws impact access to voting.

    • Location of polling places can affect turnout.

    • Prohibitions on voting by felons.

  4. Facilitating Laws for Voting:

    • Online registration options.

    • Availability of early voting.

    • Access to absentee and mail voting.

Group Differences in Political Participation

  • Socioeconomic Status (SES):

    • Composed of wealth, income, and educational attainment.

    • Individuals with higher SES levels generally participate more in electoral activities.

    • Higher education correlates with increased voting.

    • Higher wealth/income levels are associated with greater participation.

  • Age:

    • Older individuals generally vote more frequently than younger individuals.

    • Notably, recent elections display increased voting rates among young people.

  • Race/Ethnicity:

    • Trends indicate that white individuals typically vote at higher rates than Black or Latino/a individuals, although this can vary.

  • Sex:

    • Women tend to vote 3-5% more than men in various elections.