Unit IV Lesson 7

Voting Trends in America

Essential Question:• Why do Americans believe what they do about

politics and what role do families, schools and media play in the changing or perpetuating of these political beliefs?

• In what ways do Americans participate in their political system?

• How does participation vary among various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the nation?

• How have political parties developed, how are they organized, and what effect do they have on the political process?

“Primary Election”

“General Election”

Voting in the U.S. is PITIFUL compared to other

democracies. American voter turnout averages

around 55%; most European countries get close

to 80%!

80% 55%

45%

(Lame) Reasons why voter turnout in the U.S. is lower

than in other nations:

*30 DAYS PRIOR TO AN ELECTION!

*The U.S. requires citizens to register to vote prior to an

election (Lame Excuse!)November 2014

39%

Political Spectrum

*The choice offered to Americans is not great; parties on the

far right and far left rarely win and the “Big Two” dominate

(Lame Excuse!)

96%

Too Lazy

*Americans are “too busy” Despite the average wait time for most elections being under 10 minutes many Americans say

with work, school, and other errands they don’t have the time to vote (Lame Excuse!)

*Voters don’t know enough about the candidates and issues

A large group of Americans don’t vote because they don’t feel knowledgeable enough about the people running or what they stand

for but really, whose fault is that? (Lame Excuse!)

Too Lazy

The Last

One is a

Biggie…

One…

LOW “Political Efficacy”HIGH “Political Efficacy”

*Americans have low “Political Efficacy” (Political Efficacy- How much

faith a person has in his or her ability to change government and

influence politics

“Low Political Efficacy”(Little faith in government or voter’s

ability to change things)

“Political Efficacy”Highest

45%LOW “Political Efficacy”

55%

HIGH “Political

Efficacy”

The Americans Most Likely To Vote Are: *The Elderly –

Because of their advanced wisdom (or maybe because

they have WAY more free-time) Senior Citizens are the

age bracket MOST likely to cast a ballot in an election

(Which is why politicians always have to listen to them!)

*The Wealthy – Ever wonder why politicians tend to favor the

rich over the poor even though the poor need more help?

It’s because wealthy people are three times more likely to

vote than the underprivileged

2002

*The Well Educated- Individuals with college degrees make

up only 27 percent of the population but they cast 45

percent of all votes. The better educated a person is,

the more likely he or she is to vote!

Voter

Registration

by Sex

Percent

Female 72.8

Male 69.1

4-7 Million

*Women…but not necessarily for female candidates

“No one hates women more than

other women” –Mia Koch

One Last Group:Who Are We Forgetting?

*White People – Whites are the

most politically active racial

group in America (BY FAR)

Let’s Recap:

1

2

3

Age

1

2

3

Income

1

2

3

Race

“Political Efficacy”Highest

“Political Efficacy”Highest

All of the following are reasons why voter turnout in the U.S. is less than in other

democracies EXCEPT:

A.The U.S. requires voter registration in advance of the election

B.American political parties are weaker and do not mobilize the vote as thoroughly as in other countries

C.Far right and far left parties rarely win thus dampening enthusiasm to vote

D.U.S. citizens have a lower sense of political efficacy than do citizens of other democracies

The belief that a person’s vote is important

and can significantly influence public policy

is known as:

A.Political voting

B.Political participation

C.Political efficacy

D.Political polling

Voter apathy is MOST common among

which of the following groups?

A.Whites

B.Women

C.The upper class

D.Young people

Statistics reflect all of the following patterns of voter behavior except:

A.Middle-aged people are more likely to vote than are younger people

B.Wealthy individuals are more likely to vote than those with lower incomes

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

D.Men are more likely to vote than are women