FrontPage: Have Who Votes worksheet on your desk.

Last Word: No homework

The Voter What are the common characteristics

of those who vote?

Voting: Why or Why Not? Type of election – More vote in presidential

years than in “off-years”

Voting: Why or Why Not? Negative Ads –Likely to keep voters

home, but research exists on both sides

Voting: Why or Why Not? Negative Ads –Likely to keep voters

home, but research exists on both sides

Voting: Why or Why Not?

Public Opinion polls – Could serve to mobilize candidate currently behind; could have opposite effect

Voting: Why or Why Not? Weather – bad weather can severely depress

turnout

“Time Zone Fallout” – In prez. election years, as polls close in the East, media projections of winner may discourage Westerners from voting

“Ballot Fatigue” and/or “Partial Non-voters” – Farther down on the ballot, voters know less, care less, vote less

Candidates or issues – Depending on the election and current events

Reasons for Higher Voter Turnout in the 2008 Election

Reasons for Higher Voter Turnout in the 2008 Election

The Change Factor – Obama “hype” caused voter turnout to rise

The “Bush Factor” – Citizens turn out to vote for or against Bush

policies of past 8 years

A Close Race – Elections in recent years have been close;

generates excitement and feeling that votes matter

Reasons for higher voter turnout (for a midterm) in 2010 Republican “revolution”?

First chance for Republican voters to formally “hit back” at Obama policies

Reasons for higher voter turnout (for a midterm) in 2010 “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Voters concern with issues, including jobs and debt

Percent who followed this story most closely…News Story %

Economy 23Health care reform 18Situation in Afghanistan 13Don't ask, don't tell debate 6Congressional elections 6Drug violence in Mexico 5

Reasons for high voter turnout in 2012 Referendum on Obama’s first term

Potential for Palin (first woman president?)