APIB - Political Socialization and Public Opinion Lesson

Political Socialization and Public Opinion

Participation in Elections

 

Elections are a key part of American democracy. Obviously, elections allow us to choose our leaders. But they also are the only way that most people will participate in government.Most of the tim

e, many Americans feel like they are simply observing events that unfold in Washington, their state legislatures, or their city governments. After voting, people should feel like they have not observed, but actively participated in their government.

Why Don't People Vote

Of all the industrialized democracies, America has the lowest rate of voter turnout. On average, only about 35-40% of registered voters actually show up at the polls. Why don't most people participate? Let's look at a few reasons:

Election Day: Almost every state holds its elections on a Tuesday. General elections (and, constitutionally, the Presidential election) are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. On election day, most polls are open for one twelve hour shift. (In Georgia, it is usually 7 AM to 7 PM). For most working Americans, this is very inconvenient. While most states have laws requiring time be given to workers to vote, many people are unaware of these laws. Absentee ballots (which allow people who cannot vote in their polling place to cast their vote by mail) are available if one has a legitimate reason that they cannot be in their voting district on Election Day (such as military or business commitments) but very few people take advantage of this opportunity.

Confusion: The US has more elections than almost any other nation. We not only elect Congress and the President, we elect state judges, county judges, city judges, sheriffs, city leaders, county leaders, school boards, mayors and many more. While sample ballots are available for voters to examine before any election, many voters are overwhelmed when they see how many elected officials they are asked to vote for. The US also holds more elections than other nations. In addition to the Presidential election every four years, there are Congressional elections every two years. Many other governments also have gubernatorial or mayoral elections. In short, you can bet that, regardless of the year, some government in this country is having an election in early November.

Frustration: Some Americans feel that, regardless of how they vote, things will never change. They feel that casting a vote is a waste of time and they usually never vote.

Apathy: These are people who simply don't care about the electoral process. Many Americans may vote based on how they like a candidate, a desire to see an elected official removed, or an issue that motivates them, like the environment or abortion. Some people have no issue or candidate that gets them motivated enough to vote.

Registration: One cannot simply show up and vote. Most states require eligible voters to register at least thirty days before an election. Once registered, the voter can only vote at the one polling place where they are registered. This usually requires a picture ID.

Legally Unable to Vote: Most states have laws that have taken away the right to vote from certain groups. For example: Those convicted of a felony, those guilty of any type of voter fraud, those deemed by a court to be mentally unstable, illegal aliens, non-citizens, and/or those under 18 years of age.

Rational Ignorance: There is a group of people who feel that, since they really have no knowledge of government or politics, it must not be that important. An analogy can be given to the operation of your car. Because you know how to start it, steer it, and make it go and stop, you believe that you have a handle on what is important to go from Point A to Point B. Since you may not understand the workings of the internal combustion engine, or what the water pump does, or how the anti-lock brakes work, it must not be important. Of course, being a smart student, you realize that the inner workings of the car are important. Just like, while you may not understand all the workings of your federal, state or local government, you should realize that it is still important that your voice be heard through your right to vote.

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