Unit 2 Voting Flashcards
What are factors that influence voter choice?
-Party ID and ideological orientation
-Candidate Characteristics (Voters like candidates who look like them)
-Demographic Characteristics
-Contemportary Political Issues
What is Rational Choice Voting?
Voting based on what a citizen believes in in their best interest. Examines issue/candidate, evaluates campaign promises/platform points.
What is Retrospective Voting?
Voting to decide whether party/candidate in power should be reelected based on their past. Looking closely at candidate or a party track record.
What is Prospective Voting?
Voting based on predictions of how party/candidate will perform in future. Consider promises made by candidates and how proposes ballot initiatives might affect their llives/operation of government.
What is Partyline Voting?
Voting for candidates who belong to only one political party for all offices on ballot. Easiest way to predict voter’s habits.
What is the 14th Amendment (1868)?
Grants citizenship to all born/naturalized in the US.
Helped: Former male/African American
Context: Reconstruction
What is the 15th Amendment (1870)?
Right to vote cannot be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Helped: African American Men
Context: Reconstruction
What is the 17th Amendment (1913)?
Senators are elected by the people.
Helped: “All” Male Voters
Context: Corruption with election of Senators
What is the 19th Amendment (1920)?
Right to vote cannot be denied based on sex.
Helped: Women
Context: Women’s suffrage movement
What is the 24th Amendment (1964)?
Eliminate poll taxes as requirement to vote.
Helped: African Americans and any poor people
Context: Civil Rights Movement
What is the Voting Rights Act (1965)?
Limited discrimination laws and loopholes intended to prevent voting. Allowed federal government to have more control over state elections to boost equality in voting.
Helped: African Americans
Context: Civil Rights Movement
What is the 26th Amendment (1971)?
Voting age lowered to 18 from 21.
Helped: Young People
Context: Vietnam War
What is Voter Turnout?
Number of eligible voters who participate in an election as a percentage of voting age population. U.S. is at low end of voter turnout rates compared to other modern democratic nations.
What influences Voter Turnout?
-Political Efficacy
-Demographic Characteristics
-State Laws
-Election day Issues
-Types of Elections
What is Political Efficacy?
The belief that an individual’s participation in political process can make a difference. Two types:
1. Voter Apathy: Voters feel like their vote doesn’t count. No interest, motivation, desire to participate.
2. Voter Alienation: Voters feel like they should vote, but don’t. Feelings of underrepresentations and barriers.
What are Demographic Characteristics?
Used to predict the likliehood of whether an individual will vote or not. Most likely to vote:
-College Educated
-Highter Income
-Religious
-White
-Middle Aged/Older (44+)
-Women
What is Voter Registration?
States have different registration requirememnts. Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) means eligible individuals are auto-registered when interacting with certain government agencies.
What are State Voters ID Laws?
Some states require voters to show valid ID to vote.
This is supported by:
-Conservatives/Republicans
-Claim they will decreaase voter fraud, or people voting illegally
-Order
This is opposed by:
-Liberals/Democrats
-Claim voter fraud is extremely rare and real goal is to suppress voter turnout
-Liberty
What types of Voting is allowed?
Vote by mail: Some states have automatic mail-in ballots sent to all citizens.
Absentee Voting: Type of vote by mail. State decides if reason needed.
What are Election day issues?
-Long Lines (2 mil people didn’t vote one year because of this)
-Election day is not a holiday.
-No federal law requiring employers to give employees time off to vote. This varies on time, pay, notice, proof
-Poll closures/hours open
What are the differences between the two elections
Presidential Elections feel more important to people. Increased media attention and campaigning. Increased fundraising and money spent on advertising. Only happens once every 4 years.
Mid Term Elections are once every two years and for senate and representatives.
What are Linkage Institutions?
Connect people with government and keep people informed. Avenues for citizens to communicate their preferences to policy makers are: Political Parties, Interest Groups, Elections, Media
