SEPT 9 – POLLING AND VOTINGAgenda: Quick-write Ideology Voter Turn Out Enrolling in

MyPoliSciLab Polling

Consultant Push Polling

Take out: Notebook Pen/Pencil

Homework: Page 307-318 Begin Chapter 9

SG

QUICK-WRITE What are the major ideological

differences between liberals and conservatives?

LIBERALS Favor active central government with social and

economic responsibilities Favor peaceful political and social change within the

existing political system Economically tend to favor:

strong positive action to solve the nation's problems more equal distribution of wealth regulation of big business

programs that promote equality (welfare, social programs) Opposes increases in defense spending and military actions,

prayer in school, tax breaks for the wealthy. Socially, liberals favor:

small government (less likely to abridge individual freedoms) except action to protect civil rights

CONSERVATIVES Favor limited government and freedom of

the private sector Approach change cautiously Economically, most often support

less active government (oppose redistribution of wealth, support free market)

Favor reduced taxes Oppose affirmative action and spending on social

programs Socially, conservatives favor

large role for the government (security, policing, national defense)

moral standards, protect "family values”, oppose abortion

QUICK CHECK 1: Who is more likely to vote for a

conservative candidate? Why?White, evangelical ministerAfrican-American Baptist ministerCuban immigrant living in Florida working

minimum wageMiddle-class Hispanic-American housewife

QUICK CHECK 2: Who is most likely to vote for a liberal

candidate?Upper income Jewish male rabbiLower income African-American motherMiddle income Asian American protestant

high school studentWhite male who did not graduate from high

school

ENROLLING IN MYPOLISCILAB Follow the instructions on the handout

YOU ARE A POLLING CONSULTANT Select the resources for our text Click on “student resources” Select “simulations” Select simulation #11 “You are a Polling

Consultant”

PUSH POLL Operates under the guise of a legitimate

survey to spread lies, rumors and innuendos about candidates.

Survey containing questions which attempt to change the opinion of contacted voters.  

Increase negativity regarding candidates Based on potentially legitimate information Test a voter – inform regarding virtues and

vices that might not be known. Add info question by question to test

commitment and to assess which issues might push a voter away from their initial choice

EXAMPLES OF PUSH POLLING “If you learned that [Candidate A] has

voted for six tax increases in the state legislature, would this make you more or less likely to support her?”

“If you learned that [Candidate B] opposes a woman’s right to choose an abortion, would this make you more or less likely to support him?”

“Would you still support this person if you learned that he is [a tax evader, a baby killer, or shoots newborn puppies for sport]?”

NEGATIVE PERSUASION PHONING: Hello, my name is _______ calling from the

Citizens for Tax Fairness. I am calling to remind you that unlike thousands of your fellow citizens, Jeb Bush failed to pay local and state taxes and he has profited at the taxpayers’ expense from business deals involving failed savings and loan properties. Mr. Bush doesn’t play by the same rules like the rest of us and we want to make sure you are aware of this before you cast your vote on Tuesday.

Thank you and have a good day/evening.

VOTER TURN OUT

How to get to the polls

HISTORICAL QUALIFICATIONS Religion (eliminated by states) Property (eliminated by states) Race (eliminated by 15th Amendment) Sex (eliminated by 19th Amendment) Income (eliminated by 24th

Amendment) Literacy (eliminated by Voting Rights

Act of 1965) Minimum Age of 21 (eliminated by

26th Amendment)

CURRENT QUALIFICATIONS ALL SET BY STATES!!

Citizenship, residency, age, registration

WHAT

COMPARISON US

~50% in presidential elections~30—40% in midterm electionsEven lower in state electionsDeclining since 1960

Western European~90% turn out rate

COMPARISON We have no compulsory voting

No fines, no same day registration, dual party system allows for fewer choice

REASONS FOR LOW TURN OUT Institutional Barriers

How many can you name?

ANSWERS. . . Registration Ballot Fatigue Excessive # of Elections Type of election Difficulty of Attaining absentee ballot Age—youth are the worst

REASONS FOR LOW TURN OUT Political Reasons:

Lack of political efficacyDissatisfaction with candidates, parties, etc.Lack of strong 2 party competitionWeaknesses of parties in mobilizing voters

VOTER BEHAVIOR

Factors Affecting

GEOGRAPHY, TIME Solid South—traditionally Democratic,

trending Republican Coattail effect Critical Elections “realigning”

Long term change in political alignment

PARTY ID Probably second strongest predictor of

voting behavior Split ticket voting Independents

Rising quicklyTend to be young, college educated, above

average incomes

Retrospective/Prospective Voting

WHO VOTES, WHO DOESN’T, WHO CARES? Characteristics of those likely to vote

Level of educational achievement greatest predictor of voting Cuts across all other factors

Income—rich vs. poorAge—older vote more than youngRace—whites more likely than African

Americans more likely than Hispanics

WHO VOTES, WHO DOESN’T, WHO CARES? Does it matter?

Yes—class bias—older, richer, white people dominate

No—nonvoters are demographically different, not politically different

DEMOGRAPHICS Sex

Female / male = Dem, GOP Race

More likely to vote Dem, African Americans—most loyal Dem voters

Social ClassUpper = GOP; Lower = Dem

ReligionProtestant = GOP; Catholic = Dem; Jewish =

Dem.