Participation And Voter Behaviour Flashcards
(48 cards)
What is the sociological model?
Long term factor of groups having similar issues and ideas on problems
Rational choice model?
Particular issues and candidates have a strong influence on voter behaviour in short term patterns
Eg each election cycle change
What is an argument for socialisation?
Increasing and high levels of partisanship
American identity aligns with parties
Consistently identifying with a party since the 50s.
; 42% in 2014 identified as independent
How many voters in the US usually identify as strongly independent?
10%
How extensive was party alignment during the 2012 election?
92% of democrats voted Obama
93% of republicans voted Romney
How did the New Deal change partisan alignment?
Large numbers of urban workers joined democrats due to economic assistance
Led to vast majority of country voting democrat until 1944
Why did party alignment change during Truman’s reign?
Civil rights movement led to southern democrats leaving to form the Dixiecrats
What was the realignment which was brought on in the 70s?
Rise of social issues: abortion, civil rights
Rise of interventionist economics: Medicaid and welfare
What were Reagans policies like?
Fiscal conservative
States rights
Supported religion in school
Opposing abortion and affirmative action
What were party alignment trends established during the 80s?
White, richer, Protestant, elderly, high income vote republican
Minority, catholic/atheist, young, lower income vote democrat
What was the democratic share of Hispanic voters in 88, 96, and 2020?
69%, 72%, 65%
Who were the evangelicals who Reagan appealed to?
Moral Majority (1979)
Voted against issues such as gay rights and abortion
What is the % of each age group who regularly attend religious service?
36% of youth
51% of 65+
How do generations impact the youth vote?
Gen X grew up under Reagan and in 1992 47% voted republican
Millennials grew up under controversial Bush so vote democrat
How do women tend to vote on policy areas?
Fiscal interventionism
Social liberal
Less supportive of foreign military intervention
How does marriage impact voting?
Married are more likely to vote for republicans since they are more likely to be conservative, richer, and older
How many televised debates are used?
3 presidential, 1 vice presidential
How did televised debates become significant during the 1960 election?
Kennedy only had a 0.1% majority
65 million people watched the debates and they increased JFK popularity by 3%
How do televised debates increase scrutiny and reduce the security of the incumbent?
Reagan criticised Carter through wit
Directly asking the electorate questions about the last four years
How did televised debates allow independent candidate to gain popularity?
Perot went from 10% to 17% by the end of the debates
What limits the effectivity of campaigns?
Debates are held in October, with estimate at 4% undecided by this point
How many undecided voters were there in swing states in 2012?
900,000
How effective was the 1964 campaign ads?
Democrats make it seem as though Goldwater will lead the country to nuclear waste
Very effective
What was a feature of the 1988 ads?
Exploited racial tensions by showing a black criminal who attacked a white person
Raised controversial issue of the death penalty
