sept 9 – polling and voting
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Sept 9 – Polling and Voting. Agenda: Quick-write Ideology Voter Turn Out Enrolling in MyPoliSciLab Polling Consultant Push Polling. Take out: Notebook Pen/Pencil Homework: Page 307-318 Begin Chapter 9 SG. Quick-write. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SEPT 9 – POLLING AND VOTINGAgenda: Quick-write Ideology Voter Turn Out Enrolling in
MyPoliSciLab Polling
Consultant Push Polling
Take out: Notebook Pen/Pencil
Homework: Page 307-318 Begin Chapter 9
SG
QUICK-WRITE What are the major ideological
differences between liberals and conservatives?
LIBERALS Favor active central government with social and
economic responsibilities Favor peaceful political and social change within the
existing political system Economically tend to favor:
strong positive action to solve the nation's problems more equal distribution of wealth regulation of big business
programs that promote equality (welfare, social programs) Opposes increases in defense spending and military actions,
prayer in school, tax breaks for the wealthy. Socially, liberals favor:
small government (less likely to abridge individual freedoms) except action to protect civil rights
CONSERVATIVES Favor limited government and freedom of
the private sector Approach change cautiously Economically, most often support
less active government (oppose redistribution of wealth, support free market)
Favor reduced taxes Oppose affirmative action and spending on social
programs Socially, conservatives favor
large role for the government (security, policing, national defense)
moral standards, protect "family values”, oppose abortion
QUICK CHECK 1: Who is more likely to vote for a
conservative candidate? Why?White, evangelical ministerAfrican-American Baptist ministerCuban immigrant living in Florida working
minimum wageMiddle-class Hispanic-American housewife
QUICK CHECK 2: Who is most likely to vote for a liberal
candidate?Upper income Jewish male rabbiLower income African-American motherMiddle income Asian American protestant
high school studentWhite male who did not graduate from high
school
ENROLLING IN MYPOLISCILAB Follow the instructions on the handout
YOU ARE A POLLING CONSULTANT Select the resources for our text Click on “student resources” Select “simulations” Select simulation #11 “You are a Polling
Consultant”
PUSH POLL Operates under the guise of a legitimate
survey to spread lies, rumors and innuendos about candidates.
Survey containing questions which attempt to change the opinion of contacted voters.
Increase negativity regarding candidates Based on potentially legitimate information Test a voter – inform regarding virtues and
vices that might not be known. Add info question by question to test
commitment and to assess which issues might push a voter away from their initial choice
EXAMPLES OF PUSH POLLING “If you learned that [Candidate A] has
voted for six tax increases in the state legislature, would this make you more or less likely to support her?”
“If you learned that [Candidate B] opposes a woman’s right to choose an abortion, would this make you more or less likely to support him?”
“Would you still support this person if you learned that he is [a tax evader, a baby killer, or shoots newborn puppies for sport]?”
NEGATIVE PERSUASION PHONING: Hello, my name is _______ calling from the
Citizens for Tax Fairness. I am calling to remind you that unlike thousands of your fellow citizens, Jeb Bush failed to pay local and state taxes and he has profited at the taxpayers’ expense from business deals involving failed savings and loan properties. Mr. Bush doesn’t play by the same rules like the rest of us and we want to make sure you are aware of this before you cast your vote on Tuesday.
Thank you and have a good day/evening.
VOTER TURN OUT
How to get to the polls
HISTORICAL QUALIFICATIONS Religion (eliminated by states) Property (eliminated by states) Race (eliminated by 15th Amendment) Sex (eliminated by 19th Amendment) Income (eliminated by 24th
Amendment) Literacy (eliminated by Voting Rights
Act of 1965) Minimum Age of 21 (eliminated by
26th Amendment)
CURRENT QUALIFICATIONS ALL SET BY STATES!!
Citizenship, residency, age, registration
WHAT
COMPARISON US
~50% in presidential elections~30—40% in midterm electionsEven lower in state electionsDeclining since 1960
Western European~90% turn out rate
COMPARISON We have no compulsory voting
No fines, no same day registration, dual party system allows for fewer choice
REASONS FOR LOW TURN OUT Institutional Barriers
How many can you name?
ANSWERS. . . Registration Ballot Fatigue Excessive # of Elections Type of election Difficulty of Attaining absentee ballot Age—youth are the worst
REASONS FOR LOW TURN OUT Political Reasons:
Lack of political efficacyDissatisfaction with candidates, parties, etc.Lack of strong 2 party competitionWeaknesses of parties in mobilizing voters
VOTER BEHAVIOR
Factors Affecting
GEOGRAPHY, TIME Solid South—traditionally Democratic,
trending Republican Coattail effect Critical Elections “realigning”
Long term change in political alignment
PARTY ID Probably second strongest predictor of
voting behavior Split ticket voting Independents
Rising quicklyTend to be young, college educated, above
average incomes
Retrospective/Prospective Voting
WHO VOTES, WHO DOESN’T, WHO CARES? Characteristics of those likely to vote
Level of educational achievement greatest predictor of voting Cuts across all other factors
Income—rich vs. poorAge—older vote more than youngRace—whites more likely than African
Americans more likely than Hispanics
WHO VOTES, WHO DOESN’T, WHO CARES? Does it matter?
Yes—class bias—older, richer, white people dominate
No—nonvoters are demographically different, not politically different
DEMOGRAPHICS Sex
Female / male = Dem, GOP Race
More likely to vote Dem, African Americans—most loyal Dem voters
Social ClassUpper = GOP; Lower = Dem
ReligionProtestant = GOP; Catholic = Dem; Jewish =
Dem.