Limits to Participation Flashcards
What is underrepresentation in the context of voter participation in the USA?
Underrepresentation refers to the lack of ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged citizens participating in the political process.
These groups are less likely to vote or stand as candidates compared to White Americans.
Example: Historically, politicians often targeted policies at the white majority, discouraging ethnic minorities from voting.
How does underrepresentation impact voter turnout?
Underrepresentation leads to lower voter turnout among ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged citizens.
When certain groups feel excluded or underrepresented, they are less likely to engage in the political process.
Example: Ethnic minorities, such as African Americans, are less likely to participate compared to White Americans, lowering overall voter engagement.
What is voter fatigue, and how does it limit participation?
Voter fatigue occurs when there are so many elections that people become discouraged from voting.
With frequent elections, people may feel overwhelmed and disengaged, leading to lower participation.
Example: The USA holds elections for the President (every 4 years), Senate (every 6 years), and Congress (every 2 years), resulting in many elections that can lead to voter fatigue.
How does voter fatigue affect voter turnout in the USA?
Voter fatigue causes citizens to disengage from the voting process because they are asked to vote too frequently.
People may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of elections and lose interest in voting altogether.
Example: The high number of elections in the USA, over 1 million positions, is seen as a contributing factor to voter fatigue.
What are Voter ID laws, and how do they limit participation?
Voter ID laws require citizens to show valid photo identification before voting.
These laws can prevent some citizens, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from voting as they may not have access to the required IDs.
Example: In Georgia, the “exact match” system led to the suspension of voting rights for 51,000 individuals in 2018, with 80% of those affected being African American.
How do Voter ID laws impact ethnic minorities in the USA?
Voter ID laws disproportionately affect ethnic minorities who may not have access to necessary identification.
These groups, especially African Americans and low-income citizens, may face barriers to voting due to the cost of obtaining identification.
Example: Georgia’s “exact match” law, which caused 80% of affected voters to be African American, illustrates the racial bias in Voter ID laws.
How does the restriction on convicted criminals voting limit participation?
In some states, convicted criminals, especially those in prison or with felony convictions, are banned from voting.
This can exclude a significant portion of the population, especially Black and Hispanic individuals, from participating in elections.
Example: In Wyoming, the state passed a law in 2023 to restore voting rights automatically after 5 years for those who completed their sentence, including parole.
How does the criminal justice system’s restrictions on voting affect ethnic minorities?
Many of those affected by criminal disenfranchisement laws are Black and Hispanic individuals, leading to a disproportionate impact on these communities.
This system excludes a large number of voters, contributing to lower participation in elections.
Example: The majority of inmates in the US are Black or Hispanic, showing a bias in the criminal justice system that limits their voting rights.
What obstacles exist for voter registration in the USA?
Different states have different voter registration rules, and some require registration weeks before the election.
These complexities and paperwork requirements can discourage people, particularly younger citizens, from registering to vote.
Example: In 2020, of the 329.5 million people in the USA, only 168.31 million were registered to vote, indicating barriers to voter registration.
How does the complexity of voter registration laws limit participation?
The requirement to register 2-4 weeks before an election in many states, along with the complexity of the process, discourages people from registering.
Young people are particularly less inclined to register, and registration locations may be difficult to access.
Example: Many argue that the registration process is too complicated, which is why a significant portion of the population doesn’t register.
