Voting in Recent Elections

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Voting in Recent Elections

• http//www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/a
  rchives/voting/013995.html
• http//www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p20-557.pdf

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Where and how do you vote?
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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

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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

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http//www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/welc
ome.aspx
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Non-Voting

• Why dont people vote?

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Why is voter turnout so low in the U.S.?

• I dont care
• My vote doesnt countIm only one person!
• It takes too much time
• Even if I vote, the representatives wont
  respond.
• Both of the candidates are idiots!
• I dont know anything about politics, the
  candidates, or the issues.
• Registration is tough to do (Only 2/3 of the
  voting age is registered)

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Why people do not vote

• Cannot-Voters Those unable to vote
• Actual non-voters Those who
• Believe it doesnt make a difference
• Distrust politics
• Have no sense of political efficacy (own
  influence or effectiveness in politics)

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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

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Nominating Process and Candidates
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Nomination- candidate selection

• Self-Announcement
• The Caucus
• Convention
• Direct Primary
• http//www.fairvote.org/?page1801
• Closed- only declared party members can vote,
  primary is closed to anyone else
• Open- any qualified voter can cast a ballot
• IL- 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)

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Electoral College
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• Need 270 to win election!
• Senators Representatives of electoral votes

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http//www.270towin.com/
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Are you an Idiot?

• Idiot in Greek means those who didnt vote or
  take part in public life
• http//www.rockthevote.com/home.php

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Is voting equal opportunity?

• Voting Article

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Money and Campaigns

• http//www.fec.gov/
• http//www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do
• http//www.fec.gov/ans/answers.shtml

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Money

• Soft v Hard Money
• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
• PACs
• Private v. Public Contributions
• http//www.opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?Sta
  teILYear2006