Voters and Voter Behavior

Who is allowed to vote?

• Citizens of the U.S.• Must be registered 22 days prior to the general election (in

Virginia).• Must show a valid photo identification. You may complete a

“provisional ballot” if you can submit proper identification later.

• 15th Amendment – Race; a citizen may not be denied the right to vote on account of race, color, or national origin

• 19th Amendment – Gender; a citizen may not be denied the right to vote on account of sex.

• 26th Amendment – Age; a citizen who is 18 may not be denied the right to vote on account of age.

The Constitution protects the right to vote and defines who may not be denied.

Congress establishes the general election day. States determine the specifics of election procedures: where, when and the

method people vote.

When is election day?• For National Elections • For State Elections:

Voting Trends:

•Only about half of eligible voters turn out in presidential elections.

•Only about 1/3 for off-year elections

Presidential Elections occur every 4 years and the electorate selects their preference for President.

Off-Year elections are the national elections which occur between Presidential Elections; only Senators and Representatives are selected in these years. (These are sometimes called Midterm Elections.)

Notice the years when turnout was “high” and “low” – what was going on historically to account for these peaks and valleys?

Voting Trends:

•More people vote in federal than state elections

•“Ballot Fatigue”: the lower down the ballot, the fewer votes are cast.

•Primaries and special elections have lowest turn-outs.

“Ballot Fatigue” is likely caused by voters who are not aware of the candidates for the lesser offices on the ballot, or may not be familiar with the referendum items. As you can see from the image, a ballot contains many items to be considered.

So, why don’t

people vote?

Gerrymandering and Elections

• Gerrymandering happens when a political district is drawn to favor a political party.

• This happens at the state levels; it is the state legislatures who are responsible for drawing electoral districts.

• There are many perceptual problems with gerrymandering; most notably they solidify a party making it virtually impossible for a candidate from the opposition to win in that district.

• Many congressional districts are drawn this way, making very few changes possible and perpetuating the congressional status quo.

• Political scientists believe that this practice also works to lower voter turnout, especially in the off-year elections when “uncontested districts” exist.

There are the “cannot voters”:

About 17 million Americans:

• Aliens: people who are not citizens of the United States even though they are living in the country legally may not vote.

•Mentally Incompetent: if a judge has ruled that a person is not mentally competent, that person may not vote.

• Physically incapacitated: a person who cannot get to the polling place and had not requested an absentee ballot.

•Convicted felons: felons in Virginia must have their voting rights restored by an act of the governor.

•Religious beliefs: some religions do not permit voting

The Actual Non-Voters:

• Some people are satisfied with the system and do not feel they need to participate.

• Some people distrust the political system and believe their votes really do not count.

• Some people fear complicated and long election procedures.

•Apathy: most non-voters simply do not care enough, or are too lazy to participate!!!

Leading excuses when polled:

Voter Turnout 2012

So based on these two

maps, are the time-off-to-

vote laws effective in

increasing voter turnout?

Who votes, and who doesn’t?

Who votes, and who doesn’t?

Who votes, and who doesn’t?

Who votes, and who doesn’t?

Who votes, and who doesn’t?

Who votes, and who doesn’t?

Other trends:• Community Involvement: people who are active in

their communities are more likely to vote than people who are not.

• Marriage & Children: people who are married and have children are more likely to vote than people who are single.

• Political Efficacy: people who believe in the democratic process and believe the government responds to the expressed needs of voters are much more likely to vote!

Factors influencing voter turnout on election day:

• Exciting candidates and competitive races: if candidates are controversial or popular, voter turnout tends to rise. If a race is not competitive, voter turnout tends to fall.

• “Hot” campaign issues: if certain controversial issues are on the ballot or if current events need attention, turnout tends to rise.

• Weather: bad weather will actually keep people from going to the polls.

• Crowded polls: if there is a fear that there will be long lines, some people will tend to stay home and not vote.

• Time Zone Fallout: if election results are reported early in the eastern United States, turnout might drop in the western states if it appears a landslide.