The+Meaning+of+Participation+Rates



According to the book... Between 1967 and 1987 the percentage of Americans that voted regularly dropped from 66% to 58%

The percentage of people who participate in actual voting has dropped over the tears, but more and more people are getting involved in politics in different ways. These ways include campaigning, contacting the government, and taking action in their community. More people get involved because there are more ways to get involved in America then in some other countries. There are many more opportunities to run for office, or hold a political position.

In the US political participation also increased through public demonstrations like sit-ins and protests. In the 1950's there was an average of 6 protests a year, but in the 1960's there was an increased average of 140 protests per year.

Voting in America does not represent the whole population because the majority of the voters are of a higher class. While nonwhites and Latinos are the fastest growing groups in the country, the do not make up a large portion of the voters. Language barriers and poor incomes are suspected to be part of the reason why these groups vote less.

Voting rates in America do not mean the same thing that they mean in other countries, as Americans participate in 'other' matters of government much more than other countries, but vote in elections less. This differs due to the fact that many more public offices exist in America than do foreign countries, and so more opportunities to vote (or not vote) exist in America. When foreign countries vote, it represents the major public opinion, but this is not so in America due to a lower voter turnout. Some believe that this is how the government caters to the rich, as many that do not vote are those with language barriers, etc.

Studies show that politics is not at the heart of day-to-day life, and many people even misreport whether or not they vote, often saying they have when they have not(according to Sidney Verba and Normal Lie). Work, family, church, and other voluntary activities come first. About one-fifth of Americans seem to be completely inactive: they rarely vote or take part in politics; while about one-ninth of Americans are on the other end: these activists are highly educated, are rich, and tend to participate in all forms of government. More schooling and heavier religion tend to encourage people to vote more. Richer white vote more than poorer Blacks, but if income and schooling between both are the same, then Blacks actually vote more than Whites do. Unfortunately, in America, due to the imbalance in voter turnout, many social groups are underrepresented while others are over-represented; the ratio is not equal.