Voting in 2004

http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p20-556.pdf

Non-Voting

Why don’t people vote?

Why is voter turnout so low in the U.S.? “I don’t care”

“My vote doesn’t count…I’m only one person!”

“It takes too much time”

“Even if I vote, the representatives won’t respond.”

“Both of the candidates are idiots!”

“I don’t know anything about politics, the candidates, or the issues.”

“Registration is tough to do” (Only 2/3 of the voting age is registered)

Why people do not vote

“Cannot-Voters”: Those unable to vote

Actual non-voters: Those who…Believe it doesn’t make a differenceDistrust politicsHave no sense of political efficacy (own

influence or effectiveness in politics)

Voters vs. Non-Voters

Voters Higher income, education, & status Long-time residents Strong party affiliation

Non-Voters Younger than 35 Unmarried or unskilled Rural/low socio-economic status

Where and how do you vote?

Where Precincts Polling Places

When Election Day

November, every even numbered year, Tuesday after the first Monday

Who (common state laws) Age, Residency, Citizenship IL must register 30 days before

How Absentee Voting

Vote without going to the poll 20 million people in 2004 Apply for absentee ballot

Straight-ticket voting Vote for all or most candidates associated with your

party

Split-ticket voting Vote for candidates of different parties

Coattail Effect Strong candidate can attract voters to their party

http://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/welcome.aspx

Nominating Process and Candidates

Nomination- candidate selection

1. Self-Announcement2. The Caucus3. Convention4. Direct Primary

http://www.fairvote.org/?page=1801

Closed- only declared party members can vote, primary is closed to anyone else

Open- any qualified voter can cast a ballotIL- Must vote in primary of same party as last primary the voter participated

in. Loosely enforced.  Voters may change party affiliation at polls or caucus.

5. Petition (local levels)

ELECTION PROCESS

FEDERAL CONTROL SET DATE, TIMES, ELECTORAL VOTES CONGRESS REQUIRES:

SECRET BALLOTS VOTING MACHINES PREVENTION OF VOTER FRAUD

HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT 2002 UPGRADE ELECTION PROCESS USE OF ELECTRONIC VOTING

TYPES OF BALLOTS

1-Australian 2-Office Group 3-Sample Ballot 4-Bedsheet Ballot 5-Electronic vote counting 6-Vote by Mail 7-On Line Voting

Money & Elections

1-Campaign Spending $2 bil for Presidential election 2004; Congressional spending $1 bil 2004 What do they spend $ on?

2-Sources of Funding Small contributors Wealthy Candidates

Ross Perot—1992 bid for Pres. Spent $65 mil

Funding Continued

Subsidies—grant of $ from the gov’tPolitical Action Committees/Special Interest

Groups Why donate?

Influence Issues Social recognition Desire for laws to be passed

HOW MUCH TO GIVE??

1-individuals $2100 for Fed. Candidate in a general election $5,000 to a PAC Limit in total $101,400

2-PAC’s special committee that seek to change public policy Usu. Associated with business, labor & professional

organizations (AMA, AFL-CIO) $15,000 to a political party $5,000 to any one candidate in an election 2004--$600 mill in presidential & congressional campaigns

Money $$$$

Soft v Hard MoneyElection $ vs. $ for “party building”Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

McCain & Feingold Ban of soft $ to political parties

http://www.opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?State=IL&Year=2006

MASS MEDIA & PUBLIC OPINION

TRYING TO INFLUENCE POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION POLLS TV INTERNET RESULTS:

GET OUT THE VOTE INFORM THE VOTER

Electoral College-

END RESULTS:Popular Vote doesn’t determine

winner of Presidential electionsELECTORAL COLLEGE DOES!Usually “winner take all” election

Need 270 to win election! Senators + Representatives=

number of electoral votes

http://www.270towin.com/

Are you an “Idiot”?“Idiot” in Greek means those who didn’t vote

or take part in public lifehttp://www.rockthevote.com/home.php