Turnout was lower in the 1980s and 1990s, when the political climate was less tumultuous. More voters were mobilized during this period of political upheaval in which people focused on issues of race relations, social welfare, and the Vietnam War (Piven & Cloward, 2000). Turnout in presidential elections in the 1960s was over 60 percent. Forty-nine percent of the voting-age public cast a ballot in the 1924 presidential contest, the same percentage as in 1996. However, there have not been great fluctuations in turnout since the institution of universal suffrage in 1920. Much is made about low levels of voter turnout for presidential elections in the current era. Voter turnout in presidential elections is generally higher than for lower-level contests usually more than half the eligible voters cast a ballot. Midterm elections, in which members of Congress run for office in nonpresidential-election years, normally draw about one-third of eligible voters (Rosenstone & Hansen, 1993). Only a small number of people, generally under one-quarter of those eligible, participate in local, county, and state elections. A large number of elections are held in the United States every year, including local elections, elections for county and statewide offices, primaries, and general elections. Voter turnout depends on the type of election. “Motor voter’s” success in increasing the ranks of registered voters differs by state depending on how well the program is publicized and executed. In 1993, Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act, also known as the “motor voter” law, allowing citizens to register at motor vehicle and social service offices. Significant steps have been taken to make registration easier. The United States is one of the few democracies that requires citizens to register themselves rather than having the government take responsibility for automatically registering them. Turnout in states that have Election Day registration averages ten points higher than in the rest of the country (Wolfinger & Rosenstone, 1980). Beginning in the 1980s, some states, including Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, made it possible for people to register on Election Day. Over time, residency requirements were relaxed. Closing voting rosters weeks or months in advance of elections effectively disenfranchised voters. Residency requirements limited access to registration offices. Voter registration laws were implemented in the 1860s by states and big cities to ensure that only citizens who met legal requirements could vote. With so many elections, people can become overwhelmed, confused, or just plain tired of voting. The United States holds a large number of elections, and each is governed by specific rules and schedules. Social, cultural, and economic factors can keep people from voting. Support activities can lead to active participation, as people learn about issues through these events and decide to become involved. However, most participants are not activists for these causes. These events are designed to raise money and awareness of societal problems, such as poverty and health care. They may attend concerts or participate in sporting events associated with causes, such as the “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer. People also can take part in support activities, more passive forms of political involvement. Organizing a demonstration, protesting, and even rioting are other forms of participation (Milbrath & Goel, 1977). Serving on a local governing or school board, volunteering in the community, and running for office are forms of participation that require significant time and energy. People can work in an election campaign, contact public officials, circulate a petition, join a political organization, and donate money to a candidate or a cause. Yet there are many other ways to take part in politics that involve varying amounts of skill, time, and resources. Such political activities can support government officials, institutions, and policies, or aim to change them.įar more people participate in politics by voting than by any other means. They can communicate their interests, preferences, and needs to government by engaging in public debate (Verba, Schlozman, & Brady, 1995). They can take part in organizations that work to directly influence policies made by government officials. People can vote for representatives, who make policies that will determine how much they have to pay in taxes and who will benefit from social programs. Political participation is action that influences the distribution of social goods and values (Rosenstone & Hansen, 1993).
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