...attempts at voter suppression and the challenges to these attempts, examine the strengths and 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...
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...Voter Apathy In democratic states and countries, voters go to the poll to choose their leaders. Voters exercises their political right willingly and voluntarily. The democratic process entails contestants canvassing for votes from voters or electorates. Under a fair and peaceful democratic environment, voters should without fear and intimidation cast their votes on a polling day. But voter apathy is electorate feeling uninterested to cast his or her vote on a polling day. The electorate no longer cares to vote or practically stops voting. The voter psychologically feels that his/her vote doesn’t count, or just doesn’t care about the voting process. This situation leads to voter’s low voter turnout. It is a voter’s reaction to any perceived bad feeling of bad government by political parties or leaders and political contestants. Other causes of voter apathy include use of negative adverts, attacking a political opponent, vote rigging, hijacking of ballot boxes and other electoral vices. The voter remains not concerned about the election including the consequences. Other reasons for voter apathy can be that the voter is not educated about the election processes. It can be the electioneering and campaign process by the electoral officers and political contestants were not done or neglected. The campaign and electoral process include educating the electorates, i.e. the grass root populace on the need to exercise their electoral and voting rights. Through education, the voters will...
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...Purpose: To inform my audience the importance of voting. Thesis Statement: Voting is essential and should be exercised by everyone because one vote can make a difference. Introduction: How many people are registered to vote? How many people are registered to vote and have voted? This is the dilemma the United States is facing today. Many people are registered to vote, but choose not to vote. It is important to exercise your voting rights because the decision our government officials make can have a huge impact on our lives. Voting in any type of election, from local races to Presidential primaries, provides an important way to voice your opinions regarding elected leaders and overall policies. In addition, voting decides our future by electing officials who reflect your own views. Therefore, voting is essential and should be exercised by everyone because one vote can make a difference. The ability to vote is one of the most cherished Constitutional Rights that many have fought, marched, and died for over the centuries. 1. Many people do not realize that voting is so vital that it can even have an impact on your daily life. Voting is the best way to express your opinion silently and privately. A lot of people might say “how can one vote make a difference?” Well, one vote can make a huge difference. 2. Every vote counts and it is prominent that everyone votes because if they don’t, then the government will assume that since nobody...
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...decades has been an issue for quite some time now, leading to the question of whether or not democracy in America is working as effectively as it could be. This is a more serious issue than most realize, especially considering only about half of eligible voters have been participating in presidential elections and much less participation in lower level elections. The average citizen living today lives in a completely different world from what this country was since its birth; the average citizen today has many more personal and financial responsibilities to tend to, and consequently, many fail to fulfill their civic duty of political participation. This combination of a hectic lifestyle, lack of concern, or sometimes even distrust towards the government and political news leads to people not being able to make time, not interested in making time, or simply refusing to make time for political participation. There are numerous ways in which citizens can participate politically, each with varying degrees of difficulty and potential strength of messages conveyed. Voting and financial contributions to causes and campaigns are the two least sophisticated and most common forms of political participation. Since all votes are equal and voters vote for a candidate due to a number of reasons instead of one, the amount of information conveyed is relatively low compared to more active and sophisticated methods of political participation. (Losco and Baker 156) Forms of political participation...
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...lack of voter participation is particularly alarming B. Credibility Claim – I’ve done extensive research on the issue of voter apathy and I’ve found a solution C. Preview – Voter turnout is suffering, especially in Texas, because of the way the current voter registration process works, but by enabling Election Day Registration (EDR), voter turnout can be increased. II. Body A. Problem 1. For Example – In the recent gubernatorial race, we had the lowest voter turnout in the country; The Intercept, a reputable non-partisan journalism site, reports 33% turnout, down from 38% 4 years ago 2. Politifact, an organization dedicated to fact-checking the statements made by politicians, points out that the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Texas 48th in turnout in 2012, 47th in 2008 and 49th in 2006. 3. The cause? – Rock the Vote, a nationwide effort to promote voter participation, shows that the Texas registration deadline is a mere 30 days before the election. Many citizens become most interested and engaged with elections in the last few weeks before Election Day, when candidate debates and campaigns reach their peak. But registration deadlines may already have passed at that point. 4. Inaccurate voter rolls; Many previously-registered voters lose their eligibility merely because they have moved. Others are never added to the voter rolls because of bureaucratic errors, which Election Protection, a group dedicated to advancing and protecting voter rights, points...
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...Mandatory Voting as a Response to Declining Voter Turnout In many parts of the world, the act of voting is seen as an act that empowers citizens and an act that gives them a voice. However, with the decline of voter turnout, this voice seems to be coming from a select few, leaving political scientists wondering about the remaining of the population. In response to this situation, many have suggested making the act of voting, a mandatory one. Making voting a compulsory act for all citizens does provide both the citizens and the political system with many benefits. However, there are those that oppose this idea, stating possible disadvantages and contradiction in ideologies. The matter in hand is tough for any nation to deal with but making voting a mandatory act proves to have more advantages than disadvantages. With the issue on hand, each side of the debate has to be given an equal opportunity to present their ideas in hopes of coming up with a viable way to deal with the situation. The hopeful outcome of making voting mandatory in countries has shown is to have an increase in voter turnout. This can be approached in different ways. For example, countries such as Switzerland, Peru, Argentina and Australia impose fines on people who do not vote. (Henry Milner 11). Other countries use other methods to single out non-voters. In Peru, voters carry around stamped cards that confirm they have voted in the election and these cards are presented at public offices for services to...
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...taking this course. Of the many chapters discussed during this course, I found 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...
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...8. Efforts to increase voter turnout in the U.S. have not resulted in significantly higher turnout because in the end, it is always the same people who vote. While registration rules, poll closing times, and access to absentee ballots are more accessible, the same individuals still continue to attend the polls. The percentage of the eligible voting population who actually votes is only 51.55% Sadly, during local elections, the percentage is remarkably lower Parties are constantly attempting to help shape voter turnout by better establishing the right to vote, making voting easier, and getting supporters to the polls. It is not working though. This is because many individuals are simply not interested enough in the political system of their...
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...that you are there for a great reason. As a registered American voter, I would like to share with you the 4 steps for voting, show you the importance of voting, and encourage you to become a registered voter. Let me take you back to a critical time in America’s history. Let us begin by talking about the time or the civil war. It started in 1861. By the time of the Civil War, most white men were allowed to vote. In 1869, the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to black men, with most women of all races still unable to vote. Before the civil rights movement, which started in 1955, only free, rich, white men who owned property could vote. Although freed African Americans could vote in four states, white working men, almost all women, and all people of color were denied the right to vote. There is no doubt that people lost their lives fighting for rights to vote. People have lost their lives for us to vote in war. Also, some people performed courageous acts on their own to try and prove a point and died. Who fought so hard for us to vote? Women and men who supported the cause fought. Susan b Anthony, perhaps the most well-known women’s rights activist in history fought for women and black people to be able to vote. She believed that men and women should study, live and work as equals. Susan had strong beliefs about justice and equality for women and for black people. The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 happened due to the pressures of Dr. MLK. It was to...
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...Kennedy once said that “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” When I ran across this quote I realized that today is Election Day in Massachusetts and many local voters were heading to the polls to select new leadership. Now it’s a known fact that local voter turnout is never very high. We see more middle-aged citizens and the elderly turning out for these elections which, based on the information presented in our discussion question, is about 20-30% of registered voters. But how does this tie-in to the quote. I am in agreement that a low voter turn-out is not necessarily a bad thing. These voters usually represent those voters who are knowledgeable about the issues at hand and want to see the best person for the job get elected. But does this continuous process yield a better outcome as a whole. The populace needs to be educated about the issues and understand what they are voting for. If people tend to vote on blind faith or, worse, emotion, it is an ignorant and potentially costly move for us all. In order for communities as a whole to bind together and elect the right people for the job, they must take the time and energy to get involved and to become educated on the important issues that are affecting them and their families. The question was asked in our discussion as to what kind of a program we could devise to not only increase voter turn-out but to educate the common voter in such a way as to not make them feel like an...
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...An explanation for low voter turnout is that a lot of people think their vote would not count. Another reason is due to voter registration requirements, as well as the fact that elections are being held on work days and as such, people are too busy to go vote. The Federal Government should indeed seek ways to increase voter turnout, since citizens’ participation in politics is the essence of a democratic government; besides it is a civil right that should be utilized. One of the ways The U.S government can increase voter turnout, is by making registration and voting, online. This would address the rigors of registration and voting, as they could be done at the comfort of one’s home or even at work; since elections are held on work days, people...
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...IMPORTANT VOTER INFORMATION VOTER REGISTRATION • WHEN TO RE-REGISTER: If you have moved since you last registered to vote, wish to change your party registration, or have changed your name, you need to re-register as soon as possible. You must register by October 22, 2012 to be able to vote in the November 6, 2012 Presidential General Election. WHERE TO OBTAIN A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM: Anyone who is eligible to register to vote in California can use the new California Online Voter Registration system. You can find the online process at the Registrar of Voters website at www.sdvote.com. Click on Register to Vote and follow the instructions. Voter registration cards are also available and can be found at Post Offices, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, Library buildings, various City Clerk offices, and the Registrar of Voters office. NOTE: You can check the status of your registration by visiting www.sdvote.com. Follow the prompts to verify your voter registration. VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT • • PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL VOTER: If you are currently a vote by mail voter, you will automatically receive your mail ballot. To confirm your voting status and see your polling location, review the colored mailing label on the back cover of this pamphlet. If the label indicates you are a permanent mail ballot voter, please do not reapply --- we begin mailing the vote by mail ballots on October 9, 2012. If you do not receive th your ballot by October 18 , please call the Registrar...
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...fundamental part of our democratic process. Voter fraud claims are not new to the election process. However, in the last decade, the outcry of fraud and unfair voting practices has spread like wildfire. Voter ID laws should be put into effect to help eliminate fraud and protect the integrity of our democracy. By requiring voters to have ID, it will preserve voting rights that have been fought over for years. Women finally won the right to vote nationwide in 1920. Although people of color were granted the right to vote in the Constitution in 1869, they were seldom allowed to vote. This right was finally put into effect with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The right to vote is not a privilege that can be given and taken at will. However, there are legal stipulations to this right. Certain convicted felons lose their right to vote based on their crimes. People who are living in American that are not born or naturalized do not have the right to vote. But, how do we ensure this right to vote is upheld in an ethical and legal way? Requiring all voters to show a valid ID when registering to vote and voting would help ensure this process. Requiring ID to vote will also help prevent, and possibly eliminate, voter fraud. Fraud seems to come up after every election we have had recently. In the 2000 Presidential election, there were reports of thousands of ballots being deemed not valid because they belonged to convicted felons whose voting rights had not been reinstated (Parenti)....
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...Nearly forty-three percent of eligible voters did not submit a ballot in the 2016 presidential election according to the U.S. Elections Project, which was conducted by Dr. Michael P. McDonald, a political scientist at the University of Florida. These eligible voters outnumbered those who casted a vote for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Among those who did vote, the age group that had the lowest participation rate ranged from 18 to 29 years old. This lack of participation of young Americans place a strain on issues that affect the young population, such as allowing officials to ignore concerns involving student debt and funding for higher education. Young Americans have the power to voice their political, social, and economic opinions to make a difference, but they ignore the opportunity to act during election day due to two misconceptions: their vote does not matter and the election does not concern them. Today, I am going to explain how every vote matters, express the importance of voting, and...
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...Dior Hunter Bailey-Hofmann English 103 17 January 2015 Should Voting Be Mandatory? In the United States, voter turnout during elections has decreased over the last fifteen years. In 2012 the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) compared voter turnout rates, for the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, The BPC states “Despite an increase of over eight million citizens in the eligible population, turnout declined from 131 million voters in 2008 to an estimated 126 million voters in 2012 when all ballots are tallied. Some 93 million eligible citizens did not vote.” Many Americans feel like their vote doesn’t count anyway, mainly citizens who are already disadvantaged. Australian professor of Politics Lisa Hill states in her article What We’ve Seen in Australia With Mandatory Voting that, “Places with mandatory voting also have less wealth inequality, lower levels of political corruption and higher levels of satisfaction with the way democracy is working than voluntary systems.” Critics say that implementing mandatory voting is against the constitution, and what we value the most, freedom. Furthermore, Hill states “ Is being required to vote a violation of autonomy? Sure, but so is mandatory taxation, jury duty and the requirement to educate our children. Yet, these are all good ideas.” Voting should be mandatory because as American citizens we live in a democratic society where everyone should have an opinion. Although, Americans value independence and the free-will to do...
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