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Voting and Elections

Explore the factors influencing voter turnout, the importance of political participation, and the different electoral systems in the US. Learn about the challenges faced in elections and the impact on representation.

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Voting and Elections

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  1. Voting and Elections 24 October, 2011

  2. Voter Turnout • Voter turnout is highest for presidential elections; in “midterm elections” only a third of the electorate vote • U.S. turnout in comparative perspective • How (and why) does voter turnout change over time? • The role of age and education • Does low voter turnout matter?

  3. Voting is the most common form of political participation • Many people also talk about politics and try to persuade others to vote • Very few participate in any other specific way.

  4. Political Participation in Comparative Perspective Source: Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), Module 2, 2004

  5. Why is voter turnout so low? • Voter attitudes • Lack of convenience, voting on Tuesdays, frequency of elections, etc. • Difficulty of registration, fear of jury duty • Electoral system

  6. 0 Options for Electing the President • Congress chooses the president • State legislatures choose the president • President elected by popular vote • Electoral College

  7. 0 How it works • Each state was allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of U.S. Representatives (which changes) • The manner of choosing the electors was left to the individual state legislators. By 1836 all states (except for South Carolina) choose electors by popular vote (plurality rules). • The candidate with a majority of electoral votes is elected president • In the event that no candidate wins a majority, the U.S. House of Representatives would choose from the top five contenders. Each state could cast only one vote. An absolute majority is required

  8. Unequal Representation Source: Robert A. Dahl, How Democratic is the American Constitution?

  9. The 2008 Presidential Election (270 needed to win)

  10. 0 The 2000 Presidential Election Bush 271; Gore 266 (270 needed to win)

  11. 0 The Florida Disaster • The “problem” with competitive elections • The Florida recount (link to Univ. of Chicago study) • The punch card voting system • Design of the palm beach ballot

  12. 0 The Butterfly Ballot

  13. 0 Evidence of problems in Palm Beach

  14. The 2010 Congressional Elections • The vast majority of congressional elections are not very competitive (most incumbents are re-elected; 94% in 2008; 86% in 2010 which was the lowest rate since 1970) • Results for House of Representatives • Senate elections are more competitive but reelection rates are still very high (ie. in 2010, 84% reelected; in 2008, 83% reelected rate). Republicans defeated two incumbents and defended all of their seats (a first) which was the largest number of Senate gains for the GOP since 1994 . Democrats retained majority by 53-47, • Results for Senate

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