Voting Behavior Flashcards
What percentage of the U.S. population votes in Presidential elections?
55%
What percentage of the U.S. population votes in Midterm elections?
35%
Which country has the lowest voter turnout?
United States
What is it called when countries require that citizens vote in elections?
Compulsory voting
High turnout related to strife and conflict, so low turnout means people are satisfied
Conservative argument
Nonvoters tend to be less educated and less informed than regular voters
Elitist argument
Elections are charades and do not really matter; voting is solely to placate the masses while elites make the decisions
Cynical argument
If someone becomes totally frustrated, then they walk away from the situation
Public Disengagement
Democratic participation results in people becoming better citizens and politics becoming more noble
Discourages Individual Development
Those who regularly vote do not reflect the views of the country as a whole, so public policy does not either
Voters are Unrepresentative
People evaluate the costs and benefits to decide whether to vote
Cost-Benefit Analysis
The fact that you receive certain benefits if your candidate wins that you don’t get otherwise
Benefits
Lost wages, time required to go to the polls, inconvenience of registration, embarrassment
Costs
The probability that your vote, by itself, will determine the outcome of the election
Probability
-Minnesota Senate Race (2008)
-Washington Governor’s Race (2004)
-Florida Presidential Race (2000)
Examples of past close elections in the U.S.
