Voter Participation Flashcards
What are the two key reasons why young people do not vote?
1) Life cycle effect
2) Generational affect
What is the life cycle effect?
As people grow older their attitudes and behaviours may change due to changing circumstances such as education, marriage, employment, and retirement
-as they get older, they come to the polls.
What is the generational effect?
the effect on attitudes and behaviour of the views of different generations that persist throughout the life cycle
Why is a concern that millennials as a group haven’t conformed to the life-cycle effect?
- may affect policies and political parties
- doesn’t encourage future generation (you are more likely to vote if your family does)
- a smaller and smaller group is electing the government*
What are the reasons for the life-cycle effect?
- materially you are dependent on your families
- less educated
- more attached to a country and community as you get older
- have more at stake as you get older (property, family, responsibilities)
The generational effect has severe___and___consequences as___and___have an impact on who governs all of us.
- political
- social
- fewer
- fewer
In the 2000 Federal Election___of those 18 to 24 voted.
Overal turnout___
Turnout for those over 58 years was above___.
22.4%
61.2%
80%
Why do many retired people vote?
- Economic (social and healthcare)
- Political parties catered to them
- Generation who had a unique set of experiences (wars, civic duty, went overseas and fought for the very values and ideals, understanding of voting)
In the 2004 Federal election, __of those 18-24 cast a ballot; overall turnout was___. What was unique about this election?
- 25%
- 60.9%
- People were tired of minority government –> they had had enough.
In the 2006 Federal election, the youth vote was___; total turnout was___.
- 44%
- 64.7%
In the 2008 Federal election, the youth vote was___; total turnout was___. What was unique?
- 37%
- 58.8%
- lowest in history
In the 2011 election, total turnout was__; youth vote___; 25-34 vote__.
- 61.1%
- 55%
- 59%
In the 2015 Federal election, total turnout was___; you___; 25-34___.
- 69.1%
- 67%
- 70%
What are the 5 reasons for low young voter turnout in Canada?
1) Political cynicism
2) Lack of political knowledge
3) A weaker sense of civic duty than older citizens
4) Limited contact with political parties and candidates
5) Too busy, registration problems, illness,moving, lack of knowledge about when or where to vote
What factors might contribute to cynicism? What were the youth satisfied with?
- More recent data suffuses that attitudinal factors seem less important
- There were reasonable high levels of satisfaction among the youth surveys with the way democracy works in Canada, with 53% of youth being somewhat satisfied and a further 17% very satisfied.
Why are many youth cynical?
- Politicians are in it for themselves
- Representatives are self-interested
- Duties and obligations not to citizens
- Don’t keep promises
How can a lack of political knowledge be addressed?
Take incentive and act to overcome lack of knowledge individually
- Requires effort
- Be aware of persuasive knowledge of tweets, ads, etc.
- Maybe educational institutions need to equip people –> a civics class that teaches ideologies, values, and attitudes to prepare you to be a citizen in a basic, elementary way.
- More and more political parties are aware of social media
- Should your family play a role? Is it up to your parents?
Is it possible to mitigate the fact that the youth feel a weaker sense of civic duty than older citizens?
- Less exposure to historical experiences
- Not so concerned about material welfare
- Military obligation instilled civic duty (fought or worked in war effort)
