...The midterm elections historically have low turnout, which could be detrimental to the Democrats’ hopes of flipping the U.S. House of Representatives. In order to combat this, the Democratic National Committee must commit to creating pro-voting messaging for college-aged adults. The Democratic Party has a numbers problem. Only 18 out of 50 governors in the United States are Democrats. Below the Mason-Dixon line, there are only three Democratic governors. Republicans control the White House, the Senate, the House of Representative and the Supreme Court. Republicans hold 31 statehouses, including every state house in the South. Millennials are the answer to the Democratic Party’s problem in purple and red states. As we have seen in recent elections in Alabama and Virginia, voters aged 18-29 carried both Democrats Doug Jones and Ralph Northam to victory. Alabama millennials favored Jones over Republican candidate Roy Moore by a 22-point margin. In Virginia’s gubernatorial election, young adult turnout doubled between 2009 and 2017. Virginia’s millennial turnout in the 2017 gubernatorial election was 14 percentage points higher than their turnout in the 2016 presidential election. Millennial votes in Virginia rivaled Baby Boomer numbers, both generations making up nearly 18 percent of Northam’s Votes....
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...SOCI-101-1099 Prin. of Sociology -Online- Essay Why is United States Voter Turn-out so Low Question 4) What are some explanations for why voter turnout is so low in the U.S. compared to other wealthy, literate and democratic countries? INTRODUCTION Voter turnout is the rate by which people vote in elections. The simplest way to calculate a given election's turnout rate is to compare the actual number of voters with the voting-age population. “Voter turnout in the United States is among the worlds’ lowest.” (E.S. 371) The graph below taken from an article written for the Huffington Post in 2012, illustrates how poor United States voter turnout has been as compared to other industrialized nations. Our voter turnout is less than half of the turnout in Belgium and Australia for example and it is getting worse. "Starting in the early 60's, the proportion of the population that turns out to vote in the U.S. steadily decreased, to the point where only slightly more than half the electorate voted in presidential elections in the last three decades of the 20th century" (E.S. 370) [pic] Although there are several factors that contribute to low voter turnout in the United States, three factors appear to have the most direct influence. • Voter Registration and Voting Processes in the United States make it more difficult to vote as compared to other nations. • The Decline of Social Capital in the United States • The decline in the strength of our political...
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...better way of doing things. One such ethical dilemma is the legal age to vote in elections. The Constitution The twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees every American “the right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age” (The National Constitution Center, n.d.). In America the legal adult age is considered 18 years. As an adult, an 18 year old will pay taxes on income he or she has earned. They pay sales tax on items they have purchased. They are old enough to drive a car and to join the military. These are the arguments many have given in favor of lowering the voter legal age form 18 years to 16 years, but there is another side to the story – one of opposition to lowering the age and in favor of returning the legal age to voting rights to 21 years of age as originally set forth by the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution was adopted in 1789, at which time voting was reserved for male property owners ages 21 and older. The Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870 gave voting rights to all males over the age of 21, while the 19th Amendment finally extended voting rights to women. In 1971 the legal voting age was dropped to 18 by the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which was adopted in reply to protests from students in opposition of the Vietnam War. They claimed if individuals were old enough to be...
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...they could do this is by not voting.” 32nd four-term (1933-1945) U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt In this great democracy, the United States of America, there are twin pillars of our free society: individual freedoms and citizen participation. Chapters seven through twelve addresses citizen participation. Democracy is a political (governmental) system that began in ancient Greece. The early Greeks believed that all eligible voters not should, but must participate in government for there to truly be a system reflecting the will of its people. Although today few if any democracies have full participation, citizen involvement in politics is paramount. It is essential. Chapters seven through twelve examines the history, reasons and ways that citizens participate in American Democracy. Citizen participation is “front and center” in any democracy. Voting is among the many ways citizens can participate in their democracy. Voting is essential because it determines who will govern and control a society. Today across America we witness the rewrite of voting laws. Many state general assemblies/legislatures are passing laws that are viewed as restricting the “right to vote.” Such laws may require proof of personal identification when voting or prohibiting voting on Sundays. However, recently, Oregon made news by enacting a state law allowing voter registration with driver’s license renewals. This new Motor-Voter law will expand voting eligibility. Complicating...
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...newly elected Labor party in London gave the Scots (and the Welsh) the opportunity to vote- not for independence, but for devolution. They both voted in favor, taking a major devolutionary step in one of Europe’s oldest and most stable unitary states. - Scotland’s new autonomous status has not necessarily fueled greater calls for independence. - At the heart of most devolutionary moments however, is a strong sense of ethnocultural or economic difference and when sense of difference coincide with conflicting senses of territory, the results can be explosive. - Devolutionary pressures often arise from a combination of sources. - Catalonia produces some 25% of all Spanish exports by value and 40% of its industrial exports. - Economic forces play an even more prominent role in Italy and France. - Italy faces serious devolutionary forces on its mainland peninsula as well one is the growing regional disparity between north and south. The wealthier north stands in sharp contrast to the poorer south. - The most recent of Italian politicians was the Northern League which raised the prospect of an independent state called Padania. The Northern League’s Efforts fell short. - Devolutionary events most often occur on the margins of states. - Distance, remoteness, and marginal location are allies of devolution. - The regions most likely to seek devolution are those far from the national capitol. Many are separated by water, desert, or mountains from the center of power and adjoin...
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...household, increasing the likelihood that others in the household will vote. In immigrant communities, young voters may be easier to reach, are more likely to speak English, and may be the most effective messengers within their communities. Also, there are major differences in voter turnout amongst youth subgroups, which may persist as these youth get older if the gaps are not reduced. A growing body of research shows that new voters who vote twice are more likely to continue voting for life. The challenge, then, is to sustain or increase youth participation in a year with a different political environment, to help young people develop a lifelong habit of civic participation. Voting is habit forming, when young people learn the voting process and vote, they are more likely to do so when they are older. So, getting young people to vote early could be the key to raising a new generation of voters. Another intriguing statistic shows that young people between the ages of 18 to 29 make up 21% of the voting eligible population in the...
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...Economic Inequality in the United States According to the Gross Domestic Product, also known as GDP, United States was measured the “largest” economy in the world (Mahoney 10/27/2015). However, all Americans do not share the high standard of living in the U.S. Levels of income and wealth inequality have always been high in the United States. While it is ideal for a democratic country like the United States to have political equality, the reality shows that this is not the case; as economic inequality ultimately causes political inequality under the current system of government. Income inequality has not only been prevalent, but has been polarizing further since the 1970s. Currently, twenty-percent of the population takes home 50% of the total income and the top 1% takes home 25% of the income and owns 40% of total wealth (Mahoney, 2015 October 27). While CEOs of the Fortune 100 makes over $14 million a year, an average worker makes $45,230 a year; this is a clear illustration of the income disparity in the United States. Further, it is worth mentioning that such trends are not necessary common; the United States has always had higher levels of income and wealth inequality when compared to other rich democracies (Mahoney, 2015 October 27). The average household income is currently stagnant, which suggest that the average household cannot easily grow economically in the U.S and cannot help close the income inequality gap. In the movie Inequality for All, the manager of Circuit...
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...national government. In 1777 Congress adopted The Article of Confederation. This attempt to structure an American government failed; The Article of Confederation was unsuccessfully because it restricted the national government; most power was concentrated on the states’ level. The states kept their autonomy. The national government was lack of authority, it was hard to collect taxes from each state; foreign trade was suffering because foreign counties which wanted to conduct business with the United States had to negotiate separate agreements with Congress and a state. In addition to all of these problems the Article of Confederation did not even include a president or any other executive leader because people were in their zeal to reject monarch; everybody was tried of British tyranny and they were worried if they used this model of government it would lead to the same results as they had during British colony’s time. However, in 1787 Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia (Bianco & Canon, 2013, p.33). The framers of the Constitution understood that confederation did not work. So framers based the new American government on an entirely new theory: federalism, which divides power across the local, state and national governments, and each of these levels of government has some degree of autonomy from the other levels (Bianco & Canon, 2013, p.71). This structure includes a president and grants him a limited power. Despite to this fact that the...
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...Voting Problem in America Voting Problem in America Numerous studies have been steered to support with observing for influences that will demonstration by public do not contribute in voting. It has remained a mounting difficulties with appropriate voters not registering and object their ballot. Over the decades, Americans have vanished trace with the antiquity of voting. Voting for in determinations supports in providing underpinning on why society do not participate in voting. Analyses provide tangible influences with why societies do not vote with illustration clusters support. Discovery of behaviors will show the unabridged development with the existing system supports with the American community. The 2008 elections enquiry provides awareness with the diverse motives from highest to lowest. Giving some understanding on the origin of the unruly and outcome resolutions to battle these problems. Examination can transform that are currently in domicile and assuring voting contributions on the ability to speak on the issues and distresses. Observing at other countries for potential solutions to the problem can be one riposte for the United States voting delinquent. Using tads and shards can support with altering he existing classification that does not work. Without transformation, the voting contribution will endure to diminish. The history behind the voting in America helps wonder why this pass civil liberty has fallen to many Americans waist side in today’s world. As America...
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...Parties and Elections in Texas (chapter 21), Public Opinion (chapter 6), and Political Participation and Voting (chapter 8) to be the most interesting and informative. Parties and Elections in Texas Political parties play a major role in Texas politics. Approximately 91 percent of Texas voters either identify with or lean toward the Republican or the Democratic Party. Despite all of the complaints about parties, they perform roles that are critical to the operation of our democratic system and to the overall coordination and functioning of our political system. The most important function of parties in Texas is to provide a label under which candidates may run and voter may identify. The party label becomes the standard used in casting a ballot for a candidate. Parties recruit candidates, assist in getting out the vote, and helps to organize the government once officials have been elected. The organization of political parties in Texas can be somewhat complex. Texas does not have a system of party registration for voters. Texas parties conduct primaries to select each party’s candidates for office. The precinct chair heads the precinct convention and serves on the county executive committee. The county executive committee is responsible for running the county’s primary elections and planning the county convention. Conventions are held at the precinct, county, and state levels. Participation in Texas elections has changed over time. Texas has had a...
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...citizens, who are also felons, are being denied the right to vote due to disenfranchisement laws. In the United States, “Two states, Vermont and Maine, allow convicted felons to vote while in prison. Nine states permanently restrict certain felons from voting (until and if granted the state governor's pardon) even if those people have served their prison sentence, parole, probation, and paid all fines. The remaining 36 states fall somewhere in between,” (ProCon.org, 2009). Felons should have the right to vote, as they have paid or are paying their debt to society, and the millions of missing felony votes impact all of us. How many times have you voted in a close race and your candidate did not win? Imagine if just a fraction of the felons that share your views were allowed to vote just like they are allowed to pay taxes. Millions of Americans in our republic are not represented at every election due to non-felony voting, which can be said to be undemocratic, and as such, felons should be allowed to vote in all states. “The legislature has sent a clear message that voting is a fundamental right that should not be stripped away from people who are working, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, “said Steven Brown, Executive Director of the ACLU of Rhode Island. According to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the right of citizens of the United States to vote is a fundamental right. An author from the New York Times agrees, stating that, "...it diminishes...
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...weaknesses of the electoral system in the United States. Name: Winston Walker Course Code: GOVT 1000 ID #: 607005957 No electoral system is perfect, but the strengths and weakness of the electoral system is based on the system of government used. The two most common systems of government are the Federal system and the Unitary system. According to dictionary.com, the term electoral system refers to, the legal system for making democratic choices. The United States of America operate under a federal system of government, which by definition, refers to a government in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments. The electoral system of the United States is set up in this manner, you vote for a mayor, senator, a member of the House of Representatives, you vote directly for that person. However, when you vote for president, you are really voting for an elector who has pledged to represent that candidate. The electors chosen by each state are called the Electoral College. This consists of 538 members, comprising 100 senators, 435 congressmen, and 3 members from the District of Columbia. States with large populations, like California have over 50 electoral votes, while sparsely populated states like Alaska has only 3 electoral votes. This system of government makes the electoral system highly susceptible to voter suppression. Voter Suppression is the strategy to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging...
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...The Progressive Era Through The Great Depression Kaishonta Arnold Professor John Swann History 105 February 9, 2013 The Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States. From the Progressive Era through the Great Depression there were many significant turning points within this period. The Women’s Suffrage Movement was one major historical turning point of the Progressive Era. Another turning point in this period was the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Although “women were basically the main players in the Progressive Era reforms, there right to vote were still denied” (Schultz, 2012). Many pushed for the franchise for all women and through their efforts in the Nineteenth Amendment to the constitution provided full women suffrage. There were two groups that pushed and furthered the cause of women’s suffrage. These two groups were formally called “The National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA), as well as The National Women’s Party (NWP)” (Schultz, 2012). The National American Women’s Suffrage Associations strategy was basically a way to push for suffrage at the state level, hoping that the federal government would pass the amendment. The National Women’s Party’s goal was of eliminating all discrimination against women. As stated by Brown, “In 1923 The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), was announced and launched what would be a life-long campaign to win full equality for women,” (2010). ...
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...promises and disenchanted with the whole process of voting and politics in general. Assuming that low turnout is a reflection of disenchantment or indifference low turnouts can lead to unequal representation among various parts of the population. During presidential elections what really counts is the Electoral College. I know where I live the winner of the Presidential election is announced before the polls...
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...spending in order to monitor and influence the nation’s economy”. That is according to investopedia.com. This financial policy is basically a mirror of the monetary policy that the United States has. When banks start adding pressure to the main bank of the country, the National Bank, this is called the monetary policy. The main goal for the already in place 2012 fiscal policy is to rebuild the United States economy as well as “citing wasteful spending and making tough choices on some things we cannot afford while keeping the investments we need to grow the economy and create jobs.” To me, the fiscal policy is seen as contradictory because a contradictory policy can or will slow the economy’s flow of pace down. By voting, American citizens/consumers can influence out government. I once heard that citizens shouldn’t complain about things that are affecting them if they are not voting. That’s a pretty true statement. If citizens don’t go out and vote and have a say so on things, the policies that are in place or are not in place will not be implemented. Monitoring your personal spending habits is another way in which consumers can affect the fiscal policy of this country. When the economy is down, spending becomes less. This creates a domino effect. People get laid off due to consumers spending less which means less work for companies which in turn causes unemployment numbers to rise. For several years now, the economy of the United States of America has changed. It has become...
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