Voting Behavior

Voting ehavior

Suffrage is an integral component of every American citizen's democratic rights and the law has given it top priority. ut realities such as the difficulties encountered from the registration phase to the voting phase, emphasis on registration as a bureaucratic task, predispositions, election-specific forces and other determinants of participation have resulted in unclear and inconsistent pattern of voting behavior and inconclusive turnout and voting choices. Political scientists and thinkers have tried to sort the situation out through the use of models. Some argue that the electorate makes decisions either as a banker or a farmer, that aggregate forecasts are stronger than individual forecasts, that economic considerations always decide/d the outcome of an election or impacted it, that governments cannot predict the actions of consumers and firms under them despite these governments' dominance, and that economic intelligence guides lead voters to adopt the retrospective, rather than the prospective, view…… [Read More]

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Even in the 2008 general election, which had widely-touted voter turnout, a number of eligible people did not vote. Michael McDonald engaged in a complex study, which not only looked at people in the population who were age-eligible for voting, but also looked at the number of people who were not otherwise disenfranchised, such as felons or foreign nationals. He found an overall turnout rate of truly eligible people of 61.7%, which means that almost 40% of people who were eligible to vote in the 2008 election, failed to do so (McDonald, 2009). McDonald also found an overall turnout rate of 56.8% of all age-eligible people, which would mean that only slightly more than half of all age-eligible people voted in the 2008 election (McDonald, 2009).

Black Turnout vs. White Turnout

Traditionally, there has been a lower turnout among black voters than white voters, a fact that is particularly disconcerting,…… [Read More]

Voting During the 2000 Elections

Ethnic groups such as Black people and Hispanics, and also women, had to fight for their right to vote. The many fighters who suffered and died during these struggles should be honored by using the rights that they won. It is not a right that should be taken for granted.

The news is filled with reports about countries where the right to vote is almost mythical. Women are oppressed, ethnic groups are executed for reasons not better than that they dare to exist, and the countries are ruled by tyranny rather than democracy. Voting in the United tates can then be used as an example of the power of democracy.

Voting is a very important action in any democratic country. Citizens should exercise it as a privilege, a right, and also a responsibility and an example to those without democracy.

ources

Florida Atlantic University (2004). Just Vote. Dept of Political…… [Read More]

Voting According to Recent Statistics America Has

Voting

According to recent statistics, America has among the lowest voter turnout of any democracy in the world based on participation in presidential and mid-term elections (Anderson, 2000). According to the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate (CSAE) over the last three decades, voter turnout has declined dramatically resulting in a series of historic lows. One of the main reasons for this sad decline in voter turnout is the apparent lack of interest from America's students in politics.

Fewer and fewer college age students are taking the initiative to register to vote. According to a recent magazine article (erg, 2003), America's youth today fails to realize or care about the importance of their vote. "People who are not registered to vote cannot vote. If they cannot vote, then they will not get changes made," said Sara Kaminski, President of College Democrats. It is apparent that college age students…… [Read More]

Voting Rights

Voting ights

History of Voting ights in the United States and African-American Struggle

The ultimate end of all freedom is the enjoyment of a right of free suffrage.

"A WATCHMAN," Maryland Gazette, 1776 (qtd. In Keyssar 8)

Voting is the most important process that allows the general public to communicate or refuse to give consent. During the mid-1770s, an innovative epoch began when Americans challenged the Britain's right to rule the colonies. The American evolution provided the basis of a public debate on the issue of suffrage and its restrictions. During that time period, voting was considered a privilege that the state granted to the citizens in its own interest. However, it was constantly argued that voting was a natural right that could not be deferred by the state. This argument got tremendous support not only from the small farmers and minorities but influential evolution leaders Ethan Allan, Thomas Young…… [Read More]

Voting in State or Local

One friend of mine who participated in this interview ran for a position in local government and lost. When asked why he ran for public office, his answer was that he wanted to represent his fellow citizens as well as to make a positive contribution in the community. When asked if he would run for office again, his answer was, "No, times have changed." I hope that just like my friend, the reason why everyone is running for office is to represent the interests of the people.

The pattern that has been emerging is: that most people are concerned with finding the right person for the position. as, they are exercising their democratic right by: participating in the voting process. In my opinion, the most important way for someone to participate in the electoral process is: to vote and thus exercise their democratic rights. Each of us must see this…… [Read More]

Voting Behavior Religion Has Continued

It is also said that Islam is against democracy due to the sovereignty it vest on God, the sole source of political authority and whose divine law provides regulations that govern the community of believers. Some scholars view this as Islam becomes embodied in a totalitarian state.

In Democracy and Arab Political Culture, the late Elie Kedourie wrote that in Muslim political tradition, popular sovereignty being a foundation of governmental sovereignty, the idea of representation, elections of popular suffrage, political institutions that are regulated by laws laid by a parliamentary assembly and the laws guarded and upheld by a parliamentary assembly and guarded and upheld by an independent judiciary and secularity of the state and society composed of a multitude of self-activating groups and other associations are completely alien concepts (Elie, 1994, p.6). There are those who argue that Islam is against the struggle of a government that is accountable.…… [Read More]

Voting Systems The Writer Explores

Technology is still so new it is something that the older generations are not familiar with while the younger generations are up and running from the moment they enter school (The global digital divide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_digital_divide)

The best choice for a universal system of voting in New Jersey is to use a touch screen computeriized system. A touch screen allows the voter to enter the booth, touch the screen on the desired selection and then hit send when done. This system is easy to use, saves costs on materials and paper that is no longer needed. The system is not difficult to use which means that the elderly voters will be comfortable in their ability to cast their votes. If this system is implemented universally then voters will know that no matter what district they live in they are able to vote.

eferences

Electronic Voting (Accessed 11-11-06)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_voting#Paper-Based_Electronic_Voting_System

The global digital…… [Read More]

Voting Rights Act of 1965

S., given the increased pressures made on the political scene to include all citizens the right to express their political and social choices at the polls. Martin Luther King Jr. was in this sense one of the most important figures of the emancipation process because he constantly tried to advance the issue of the right of black people to vote and bring it to the attention of the public through peaceful manifestations and quiet marches. However, despite his efforts "when Congress wrote the act, many southern states were engaged in extraordinary efforts to deny black citizens their Fifteenth Amendment right to vote" (Ponnuru, 2006). From this point-of-view it was clear that certain modifications had to be made and interventions had to be imposed to states.

Accordingly, the Act tried to resolve a number of issues. Firstly, it tried to give the 14th Amendment a stronger and more important role in…… [Read More]

Voting Patterns of American Women

United States has had a varied history when it comes to voting. Blacks endured several trials and tribulations to gain the right to vote. Women also went through hurdles only gaining the right to vote in the early twentieth century. All of this lends to what the present is today, a nation that encompasses all of the past struggles into the next Presidential election. And with the election less than a year away, some questions may be asked. For example what affects the voting patterns of American women? Is social class a determiner for how and/or when a woman votes? How does social conflict theory contribute to explaining such behaviors?

While religion appears to play a role in voting behavior among Americans and other nationalities, class may also be a determiner for how Americans vote. In regards to American women, wealthy women may see things differently versus their poor counterparts.…… [Read More]

Design the Online Voting Process for One County or One State

Online Voting System

The current system for registering voters in our country was designed in a time-frame before the computer industry had become such a major power in our day-to-day lives. In a time when citizens can order everything from automobiles to movie tickets online, the technology exists to also streamline this system. State, and county governments have the ability to make it simpler for each voter to participate in the democratic process by creating online voter registration, and voting processes.

The current system is deliberately built around cumbersome checks and balances, in order to guard against voting fraud. Currently, John Voter can register to vote when he reaches legal age. His voter registration information is stored in a database which is printed out and distributed to the individual county precincts on Election day. This hard copy is in the hands of volunteer voter referees who oversee each transaction. When…… [Read More]

Internet Voting the Recent Disruptive Technological Developments

Internet Voting

The recent disruptive technological developments leading to the creation of the Internet and the widespread adoption of mobile communication technology has ultimately led to the creation and maintenance of a digital sphere of human experience, which must now be considered alongside the usual physical world when considering nearly any facet of human experience. This new digital, online realm of experience has allowed for any number of previously problematic task to be accomplished with relative ease, and although only in the preliminary stages, in particular the Internet offers a means by which citizens could easily vote for local, state, and federal elections. However, voting online would represent a more fundamental shift in the nature of elections than it may first appear, so one must take to examine the implications of this development. By investigating the possibility of voting online, it becomes clear that not only would Internet voting result…… [Read More]

American's Voting System the Topic

These challenges has slowed the current trend in adoption of electronic voting systems. States and counties around the country are now questioning the intelligence in spending tens of millions of dollars on a system that has proven to be unreliable at best. All of the glitches and voting anomalies that have come up over the recent years caused Americans, especially in geographic regions like Florida where the problems have occurred, to lose faith in these high-tech voting systems.

In fact, faith has dwindled so significantly, in February, some Broward County citizens, along with members from nine other Florida counties, banded together to create the first citizen exit poll in America. Nonprofessional data gatherers recorded votes as voters left the polls.

Approximately 20 people, including Democrats, epublicans, and at least one Green Party member, made up Project Vote Count and manned tables outside official polling places.

These tables were run just…… [Read More]

Internet Voting What Is Your Initial Point-Of-View

Internet Voting

hat is your initial point-of-view?

My initial point-of-view on the subject of a system where people could vote online in local, state, and national elections is very positive, with some reservations. For example, while it makes sense to encourage voting in any way possible -- the turnout for national elections has been inconsistent and sketchy in the past few years, sometimes less than 50% of eligible voters come out -- the potential for abuse is always a consideration when dealing with online issues. Still, initially I think that enfranchising more voters in any reasonably safe way -- and giving honest, concerned voters an easier way to share in democracy -- is a good idea.

TO: How can you define your point-of-view more clearly?

The advantages of voting online are many, and according to a scholarly research article in the Canadian Parliamentary Review (DeBardeleben, et al., 2010, p. 1),…… [Read More]

Economic Models of Voting

Economic Models of Voting

It is generally believed that the more the economy grows (or slows down), the more all voters reward (or punish) the incumbent party for improving (or worsening) their economic situation. Presidential approval ratings often drive the results of the economic models of voting. These approval ratings are typically conceptualized as capturing both non-economic factors and other economic factors beyond near-election economic growth. This paper will discuss two major economic models of voting -- both of which show how economic outcomes may affect party choice.

Economic Models of Voting

The competency model holds that voters reward the present political party for favorable economic outcomes and punish him for unfavorable outcomes (Vanderzee, 1997). More than 25 years ago, this hypothesis was first tested (Kramer, 1970 and Mueller, 1970), and more recently have Rogoff and Sibert (1988) provided a choice theoretical foundation for it. The basic idea behind their…… [Read More]

Lowering the Voting Age Suffrage Is the

Lowering the Voting Age

Suffrage is the right to vote through the democratic process. Contemporary readers typically believe that everyone who is an adult citizen in the United States has always had the right to vote. However, it was not until 1870 that race, color, or former slaves could vote; not until 1920 that women could vote; and not until 1971 that citizens 18 years or older could vote. Essentially, from a socio-political viewpoint, the right to vote based on the Constitution prohibits legal discrimination for race, color, gender, or age; States may, in fact, deny the process of voting for other reasons (Voting ights Struggle, 2010). The last major piece of legislation, the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, was quickly passed during the height of the Vietnam Conflict, when many found a great deal of psychological and moral hypocrisy in sending 18-year-olds to fight a war, but denying them…… [Read More]

Lower Voting Age Proposal Should the Voting

Lower Voting Age Proposal

Should the voting age in the United States be lowered from 18 to 16?

POV: More than 80% of American teens, aged 16-18, have jobs and pay taxes. In the new information age, this group is far more informed and worldly than ever. This demographic group has a vested interest in improving their community, as well as a needed voice in their elected representatives that make laws directly affecting them. Lowering the voting age will have a key, and positive, effect on the sense of responsibility, character, and societal expectations of teens. estriction of voting rights actually sends the message that teens are unable to adequately have input into the legislative process, but are still responsible for paying taxes and following laws (Top Ten easons, 2012).

THEOY: Demographics have changed over the 20th century, particularly the age of electoral majority. At the beginning of the 20th…… [Read More]

Partisanship Voting

partisanship has on the vote choice of individuals during an election. For purposes of this study, the term partisanship will be defined as an individual having either a personal or professional commitment to a particular political party, faction, cause, or person. This definition of the term is meant to distinguish it from the term vote choice, which can be defined as the decision an individual makes when determining which candidate is worth choosing during an election and which can usually, but not necessarily always, be affected by partisan views.

The two terms of partisanship and vote choice could be measured in the following way. Partisanship could be measured by asking respondents the following question in the survey: Which political party do you belong to? This would be followed by the listing of four choices which are: Democrat, Republican, Independent, and Neither. In order to measure the term vote choice, respondents…… [Read More]

Mounting Tension as Voting Day

Obama says:

"Ensure More Accountability in the Subprime Mortgage Industry: Obama has been closely monitoring the subprime mortgage situation for years, and introduced comprehensive legislation over a year ago to fight mortgage fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices. Obama's STOP FAUD Act provides the first federal definition of mortgage fraud, increases funding for federal and state law enforcement programs, creates new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and requires industry insiders to report suspicious activity (Obama, 2008, 15)."

This same report addresses every issue on the voters' mind: healthcare, immigration, the war in Iraq; and others that some voters might not have considered, like aging and civil rights (Obama, 15). It looks like Obama actually has a plan, but we don't get as much of the plan, as we do discussion on what Obama has been monitoring, and wants to do.

John McCain's official site,…… [Read More]

Elderly Voting Trends and the

Returning to the Churchill quote, we note that the Democratic Party, the
relative left wing of today's political world, does contain the majority of
the young vote in America. It is also the case that many members of the
labor class and the majority of minority citizens also make up the
Democratic Party. Conversely, Republicans tend to be an older, wealthier,
and whiter than Democrats. The Republicans swept the 2002 election and left

our George . Bush with no significant opposition to any of his agendas.
In the Federalist Papers James Madison warns that checks and balances are
necessary to ensure that no one faction possesses too much power. During a
rare moment in history, this election would deliver us to a time of
singular Republican dominance, with both houses of Congress and the
Executive office occupying America with an aggressively militaristic and
socially conservative agenda. These are characteristics which…… [Read More]

Effects Voting Elections

Politics and Governance

Causes and effects of not voting in elections

Today, voting has become one of the best ways in which citizens get to know the opinions of the candidates. Voting allows the citizens to select candidates who best represent their views. In this way, the voter's future can be decided by the decisions they make when voting for their candidates. Voting is significant in that, it helps democracy to prevail as well as, if people did not vote they may be ruled by someone who would not necessarily represent them. Most people fail to vote for their candidates because they think that their vote will not make a difference. Therefore, voting may be ineffective when people fail to go and vote, hence, it is the citizens' duty to listen to the information provided by the candidates since this will enable them to decide who the best is to…… [Read More]

Letter Governor Pennsylvania Expressing Position Voting Laws PA Disadvantage Minorities

Mr. Corbett

I am writing to express concern about the new Pennsylvania voting laws. You are undoubtedly no stranger to the media's coverage of the laws, which could cause as many as 700,000 -- three-quarters of a million -- voters under the age of thirty to become disenfranchised. The non-white residents of Pennsylvania are the ones most directly affected by the new law, which is why I am writing to express my condemnation and to request, as your constituent, that the law be stricken from the books.

The law's most notable provision is that it requires voters to present a photo identification. A significantly large proportion of legal state residents -- well over a million people -- do not have photo identification for one reason or another. Generally, persons who are African-American and Latino are the least likely to have a photo ID (Froomkin). As a result, African-Americans and Latinos…… [Read More]

Iraq War and How it Has Affected Public Opinion and Voting Behavior

Iraq ar and Public Opinion and Voting Behavior

The months leading up to the 2004 presidential election were filled with commentaries and speculations as to what issues most concerned voters. From a vast array of topics such as health care, employment, social security, taxes, abortion and gay rights, voters at the polls on November 2 proved that what they were most concerned about was safety, thus homeland security and the Iraq war took center stage over all the other societal issues.

Earlier in the year, Vermont Governor Howard Dean's campaign was turning the Iraq war into a potential negative for the Bush-Cheney re-election, however when Kerry pulled ahead of Dean later in the primaries, the pendulum began to swing in favor of the Republicans (Nichols 2004). hy? Because Dean's unconditional opposition to the war "could have been a potent in a face-off with Bush" because one of Dean's strengths was…… [Read More]

Voter Participation Citizen Participation

S. House of Representatives from that state. hy set up a presidential election in which voters do not directly elect the president? elch (32) explains that the founders devised this system "…because of their view that the people could not be trusted. The people were seen as an unruly mob threatening stable, orderly government," she continued. Even after Gore successfully petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to have election officials count 9,000 previously uncounted ballots by hand, that may well have given him the victory in Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court trumped the Florida High Court and ultimately gave Florida's 25 electoral votes -- and the presidency -- to Republican candidate Bush (the High Court vote was 5-4: 5 Republican justices to 4 Democrat justices).

Meanwhile, according to professor Mary C. Segers (Rutgers University), the U.S. system of government actually "enhances citizen impact on government" (Segers, 2002, p. 182). The Founders…… [Read More]

Vote for John Mccain Senator

Considering how firmly McCain expresses his support for continuing the war in Iraq although under different command, it is clear that he represents a solution for the current situation. Our nation needs a leader with experience and that has the courage to make the toughest decisions in order to achieve victory. Although McCain has shown his support for the war against terrorism, he has also criticized the ability of President ush of conducting our troops. McCain comes with a different view of the war, with a different solution that will lead us to victory.

Senator John McCain is the most suitable political actor to become president in 2008 because he has shown commitment to his believes, he constantly fought against governmental spending and corporate interest even since the early 80s, and because he backs his believes all the way. He is a supporter of traditional moral values and he believes…… [Read More]

Voter Participation by Categories in

In the gender category the most likely to vote is the female voter that has a mild advantage over the male type of voter. This assumption should be analyzed carefully, as often in survey as well as in collected votes some mistakes may appear. The difference between the female and the male voter is very small which indicates that both genders have more or less equal vote intentions and, therefore, reasons for such a small gap cannot be traced to any significant difference in the two elements of the analysis.

In the race category, it is not difficult to asses which of the mentioned races are more likely to vote, as the segment White race is higher than the next identified ones: lack and Hispanic. Nevertheless, in any voting behavior analysis is it important to also identify which of the "all races" element is predominant, as it might turn out…… [Read More]

Voter Turnout Helps Determine 2008

High turnouts also helped to determine several key local and state elections. The large numbers of Latino voters in California also helped secure the passage of Proposition 8, therefore revoking gay married couples of their rights. A majority of 53% of Latino voters supported Proposition 8 (Ferriss & Reese 1). This is also thought to be due to the higher association with religious institutions over white liberal voters in California

Young voters also flocked to the polls this election in record numbers. These voters represented a large liberal majority who voted primarily Democratic in most election decisions. Many sources have been labeling this 2008 election as the second largest youth turnout in the whole of American history, (Morgenstern 1). Unprecedented numbers of young voters showed up to the polls to make the voice of a young America heard. Somewhere within the ranges of 22 and 24 million young adults between…… [Read More]

Voter Through Congressional District Research the Bipartisan

Voter Through Congressional District esearch

The bipartisan structure which defines the American system of democratic governance is premised on the notion that informed voters, when provided with an opportunity to select their own leadership, will invariably alternate between candidates with whom they identify closely, and members of the opposing party who offer meaningful reform. This maxim of American politics has resulted in a pattern of Presidential ascendency whereby neither party has captured the White House in three consecutive elections since the four consecutive campaign victories notched by Franklin Delano oosevelt more than a half-century ago. Nonetheless, there are still pockets of provincial loyalty which still exist throughout the national electorate, with family histories and cultural touchstones serving to elevate one party above its competition in the hearts and minds of voters. In the second congressional district of Tennessee -- an area which spans the metropolitan borders of Knoxville, as well…… [Read More]

Voter Turnout

Elections

Role of Diminishing Marginal Return on Voter Turnout

This paper looks at the effects of diminishing marginal returns on voter turnout by comparing voter turnout in various countries. The paper will look at countries with both high and low voter turnout and attempt to explain the differences in the importance of the vote in explaining the differences.

Voter Turnout in Established and Less-Established Democracies

While the leaders in turnout during the past few decades have been mainly new democracies, when one looks at broader figures there does appear to be a difference in turnout between "established democracies" and "less-established democracies.

Political scientist Arend Lijphart, categorized established democracies as all countries that are democratic now, and have been democratic for the last 20 years, and which have a population of at least a quarter of a million people (International IDEA, 2000).

A. Discussion of Data from Established Democracies vs. Less-Established…… [Read More]

Register to Vote

Voting is one of the most important rights in a democratic society. In the United States, this right has been intermittently fought for by minority groups such as black people, women and others. It is a right that has been earned by pioneers and fighters, and one that is being taken for granted all too easily in today's society. According to a column by Hillary Clinton (2001) for example, young people between the ages of 18 and 24 are losing interest in voting. A survey conducted by the National Association of Secretaries of State concludes that this generation may become the first class of non-voters. This does not bode well for the United States of the future. The country's past is riddled with struggle in order to reach the state of democracy that everybody enjoys today. The right to vote is one of the most important privileges granted by this…… [Read More]

Negative Attack Ads Decrease Voter

Part II. Meta-Analysis: Critiquing hat You Have Done

Data thus far on negative campaigning has been mixed, with some research suggesting that it can be profoundly mobilizing to the party faithful of a generally dispirited American electorate (Jackson & Carsey 2006; Martin 2004), while other anecdotal studies suggest it can alienate the public. Polling individuals from a cross-section of elections allows for a wider array of demographic data, and reduces the possibility of independent variables affecting the results. For example, the area selected for the case study might have a generally low level of civic engagement, which could create low voter turnout that was correlated to a negative campaign by both candidates, but not caused by the candidate's advertisements. Examining different districts, with different kinds of hotly contested or lukewarm races, is more representational. However, a case study allows for greater specificity in conducting the research. The interviewers are able…… [Read More]

Understanding Voter Behavior Patterns

Democracy is meant to be a means for the 'every person' to help govern the nation. However, Popkin's theory of low information rationality posits that 'every person' is unlike the ideal citizen in that they do not make their decisions based on fact, but rather, personal interactions and information from the media. Populistic Democracy allows for the governing of the nation through the 'simple person' not the privileged elite. However, similar to Popkin, Berelson believes most citizens are not able to maintain specific standards needed to successfully govern a nation. This may be because most people lack the education and understanding of what it takes to run a country and select adequate political representatives. The four standards briefly covered by Berelson: discussion, principle, rationality, and knowledge, are what an ideal citizen upholds. The reality of ideality means no one represents the ideal citizen, especially in great numbers. This is because…… [Read More]

Insider's View of Vote Vulnerability

There is also a question of the author's bias for requiring the paper ballots. One has to wonder if this requirement might mean more work for him in future elections. The author's credibility is somewhat diminished by his use of a single example of someone who might have interest in manipulating elections, well-funded foreign powers. Certainly, this could be a possibility, but there are just as many other likely candidates that Rubin should have mentioned. It appears that his choice of example is an attempt to charge emotions rather than to offer serious analysis.

Rubins's article has been successful at making one consider the possibility that there may be security issues with electronic voting. but, it certainly hasn't proved this point. Apparently, the state of Maryland which has just bought $55.6 million worth of these machines doesn't think so. It would be interesting to read its security evaluation.

ibliography

Rubin,…… [Read More]

Nazi Vote From Our Point-Of-View

The churches provided open opposition to Hitler, particularly as he had declared a form of war on them as he wanted the state to take over the churches and to direct them in ways compatible with National Socialism. Various religious leaders were arrested, hundreds of them, eventually resulting in a diminishing of the resistance from that front. Shirer notes that this persecution of religion did not arouse the German people as it should have: "A people who had so lightly given up their political and cultural and economic freedoms were not, except for a relatively few, going to die or even risk imprisonment to preserve freedom of worship" (Shirer 240).

hile a large proportion of the intellectual class has rightly been blamed for failing in its responsibility to criticize the rise of National Socialism, there were also leading men in philosophy and education, history, jurisprudence, economics, physics, and other disciplines…… [Read More]

analyzing an article about voting and trump

Voting isn't just important to Democracy. Voting is Democracy." I have long been proud of our country, and honored to participate in its electoral process, even if that process sometimes seems complicated and flawed. As a 38-year-old, I have voted in several different elections, all in the same voting precinct of Meigs, Georgia. My values, attitudes, and beliefs have been strongly shaped by my community. I am a person with strong and immutable values, dedication to faith and family, and to my country. hen I first registered to vote at the age of 18, I did not yet realize the power I had as an individual citizen. I still felt like a teenager, not quite a child anymore, but poised to be a fully functioning citizen of the United States. Yet it would be several more election cycles for me to recognize the potency of our democracy.

Registering to vote…… [Read More]

Causes of the British Vote to Leave the European Union

Brexit: The Causes of the British Vote to Leave the European Union

Brexit was the referendum vote that saw the United Kingdom pull out of the European Union. The European Union (EU) is a 29-member state egional Trade Agreement bringing together various European nations. The formation of the union saw the elimination of most barriers to the movement of labor, capital and goods between the member states. It harmonized the laws, rules and standards regarding trade amongst member nations. Most of the member states use the Euro as their currency except for Britain (ies, 2016).

The Brexit referendum had been organized on 23rd June 2016, and the issue in question was whether or not the UK ought to leave the EU. 17.41 of the voters voted for Leave while 16.41 voted for emain. There was a political design to the referendum where the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, hoped that…… [Read More]

Bias in Voter Turnout and State Welfare

Bias in Voter Turnout and State Welfare Changes

The authors of the article are predominantly concerned with the welfare policies that were passed after 1996 when the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was signed into law. Centrally, the article highlights the influences that the class bias in the voter turn-out had on the welfare changes especially in state welfare policies since the passing and signing into effect the TANF.

The widely held position that the low voter turn out in the disenfranchised sections of the population like the minority and the economically week regions contributes to the bad policies that have been passed since 1996 is the basic question the authors discuss. They try to evaluate and see whether it is true that the lower voter turn out in such regions as mentioned above do directly contribute to bad policies that do not care for the poor in the…… [Read More]

Do Electronic Voting Machines Improve the Voting Process

Things Fall Apart" Achebe before referencing

Electronic Voting Machines: Technology's failure to rehabilitate American's confidence in the voting process

Theoretically, counting votes should be easy. After all, surely it is simply the accumulation and the verifying of data? However, when America attempted to adopt touch-screen, electronic voting on a wide scale, the result was a fiasco. "There was a wonderful confluence of events. There was a vague product requirement coming from an agency that doesn't really understand technology (the U.S. Congress), foisting a system on other government agencies that may not have asked for it. There was a relatively small time frame for development and a lot of money. Finally, the government did not allow for even the notion of failure. By 2004, darn it, we'd all have touch screen voting" (Cringely, 2003). Congress expected to adopt touch-screen voting on a widespread basis in the next election, after the controversy…… [Read More]

Why My Vote Matters Essay

Introduction

When elections are won or lost by a large majority, it can give people, particularly young people, the impression that their votes don’t matter. They see the situation as very simple: the outcome would be the same regardless or not if they had exercised their one vote or not. However, this attitude is not only damaging and cultivates a dangerous sense of apathy, it also is very incorrect. In states that are overwhelmingly red or blue, it really can feel like your vote is lost in a sea that is either with you or against you. And as one researcher recently pointed out, it is important to acknowledge that voting is onerous (McColl, 2016). It can be tedious to look up one’s polling place and make time before or after work to vote. Going before work means waking up earlier and going after work means being tired and putting…… [Read More]

Groups and Voting Blocs in

Scholarship notes that these five groups are critical in managing the electoral politics of the U.N., and in the manner resolutions are adopted by group. Complications arise, for instance, because the Arab world is split between Africa and Asia, and the former Soviet Republics are split between Asia and Eastern Europe, which also includes Russia. [12: Ibid.]

The importance of understanding these groupings is that they play a strategic role in controlling issues surrounding leadership, membership, responsibilities, and structure. The success or failure of a number of campaigns and issues follows the ability to find consensus with the groups, and the individual group's ability to exercise negotiation techniques to sway other blocs. Ironically, analysis of voting records over the past few decades show that despite the importance of electoral groups, 10% of written commitments between groups and 20% of oral commitments are discounted based on misleading information or intention. [13:…… [Read More]

Scrapping the Electoral College the Reason for Adopting a National Popular Vote

American Democracy

The Electoral College as it currently functions is a way of getting around the "popular vote" -- as Underhill (2012) notes in "Changing Up the Electoral College?" However, Gregg (2011) puts an entirely different spin on the Electoral College by viewing it as "a compromise" between the Federalist and Anti-Federalist agendas that went into forming the Constitution (p. 34). Gregg asserts that the Electoral College allows special representatives to select after a republican process (direct voting) the executive. In other words, it combines popular vote with representative vote. Essentially, the popular vote is limited to states and does not count for the nation as a whole. The individual winner of a state's popular vote is assigned electoral votes -- and while one state may have many more people/voters than another -- these numbers are only represented by the electoral votes when it comes time to choosing the national…… [Read More]

Robert Dahl on Mandatory Voting

Democracy and its Critics, Dahl outlines the modern incarnation of democracy. Democracy, he notes, requires the people participating in it to "possess all the capacities, resources and institutions they need in order to govern themselves" (p.1). The complexity of democracy grew with the expansion of the idea from city-state to nation-state. He then outlines the three types of critics of democracy, and their arguments.

One of the most fundamental concepts in democracy is the definition of the "people," that is, the ones who are participating in the democratic system. This definition was originally very narrow, but has grown to encompass most adults, in most modern democracies. They are supported by a wealth of institutions that facilitate the ability to vote, political parties that express particular ideologies, and means of acquiring information that allow the people to make informed choices. A democracy without informed choice is inherently weak, as some critics…… [Read More]

Uninsured and I Vote ' Will

And any reform process will produce some initial pain: the voting "middle class may be dissatisfied but most of them have employer insurance, so they have something to lose...They are not prepared for a national experiment that will threaten what they have" (Arnst 2007:1).

Currently, none of the Republican candidates have issued detailed plans. Hillary Clinton has put forth a proposal requiring all Americans to have health insurance, through their employers, through an expanded version of the insurance available to federal employees, or through a new government-run Medicare style plan. Tax subsidies and credits will cover the premiums, "and no one could be turned down by an insurer for a pre-existing condition or other health issues" (Arnst 2007:2). Senator Barack Obama also says he will mandate that everyone buys insurance. But no candidate, regardless of how detailed or vague their plan, can iron out all of the specifics before he…… [Read More]

Analysis of the Current Situation in American Politics

Voting is a privilege and a right. A right that was denied for millions of people. Only until the passing of the Voting ights Act did minorities have a chance to not only vote, but change the face of the government. Before 1965, minorities, especially blacks, faced violent opposition in an attempt to stifle their voices and control the way the government nominates its officials.

Now that President Obama has shown what can happen when minorities are given a voice in politics, there have come some major setbacks. The nation in the next presidential election will adopt one of two sides, a far left or a far right. With the recent death of Head Justice Scalia and the refusal of Congress to allow the nomination of Merrick Garland, it is safe to say the nation is in turmoil in several ways. To understand how things became so unstable it is…… [Read More]

Macro Politics

Voting to Violence, Jack Snyder starkly poses some of the most vexing questions for foreign policy analysts during the 1990's. Why was this decade, despite the collapse of the totalitarian system of communism and an overall greater global potential for democratic involvement, marked by a worldwide increase in ethnic conflict and hatred in Europe and across the larger world?

Why did this "the process of democratization" become seemingly "one of its own worst enemies," because of its populist nature of the democratic politics that seemed to point towards peace and freedom, rather than conflict. Why has the promise of democracy leading to a more stable worldwide peace seemingly inevitably become "clouded with the danger of war?" (Snyder 2000: 21)

In another section of Snyder's book, the author states that "the transition to democratic politics is meanwhile [still] creating fertile conditions for nationalism and ethnic conflict, which not only raises the…… [Read More]

E-Voting Positives vs Dangers

e-voting, or voting through ATM-like electronic terminals. Specifically, it will discuss the pro and cons of the election process moving into an electronic age away from the "hanging chads." It will include issues of security such as hacking and vote count integrity. E-voting is a controversial new way for many people to cast their ballots, but it is not foolproof. E-voting faces challenges on many counts, and it will be interesting to see how the terminals work in the upcoming Presidential election in November. Voting electronically sounds like a good, workable idea, but is it really?

The 2000 Presidential election and the fiasco in Florida's vote count were just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to voting in America. Today, voters are faced with more than punch cards. They are faced with "e-voting." What is e-voting? E-voting is a more practical way of voting by using electronic touch-screens…… [Read More]

Present Day Racism in Texas

Texas Voter ID Law

For a state which has a history of discrimination, segregation, racism and outright bigotry, one would think the state government would be more open to hoeing a more positive path for the future at large. Unfortunately that does not seem to be the case when it comes to the Texas Voter ID law. Lawyers who challenged the legislation described it as follows, "A law requiring Texas voters to show government-issued identification before casting a ballot is the latest example of the state's long history of discrimination against minorities and puts unjustified burdens on the right to vote for more than half a million Texans" (Fernandez, 2014). This paper will attempt to demonstrate how this law needs to be treated as the form of discrimination which is absolutely is and how it is a form of legislation so bigoted and underhandedly racist, it is evocative of the…… [Read More]

Proposition 34 California's Proposition 34 Calls for

Proposition 34

California's Proposition 34 calls for the end of the death penalty and replaces death sentences with a sentence of life without parole. The proposition would: (1) repeal the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; (2) retroactively remove all current death penalty sentences and replace them with life without parole; (3) require all people convicted of murder to work while in prison and apply their wages to victim restitution and/or fines; and (4) create a $100,000,000 for law enforcement agencies specifically to solve murder and rape cases (Ballotpedia). Currently, there are 725 people on death row in California, though current challenges to California's lethal injection procedure means that none of them are currently facing execution. In fact, in 2006, a federal court judge halted all executions in California due to concerns over administration of the penalty in the state (Ballotpedia).

The death…… [Read More]

Black Churches and Targeted Funding

Disparity of Targeted Funding in the Black Urban Community

There are many ways to get funding for different types of projects, no matter where a person or organization is located. Some of the areas most in need of funding for projects are in black, urban communities (Barnes, 2005; Day, 2002; Haight, 1998; Patillo-McCoy, 1998). Money is often scarce there, and without funding there are few programs that can help people who really need it. This puts these residents at a distinct disadvantage, and makes it more difficult for them to get out of poverty and build better lives for themselves. No matter what types of programs need funding and financial help, there are different ways in which getting that funding can be considered.

Church congregations often help raise money for community projects, but there are other ways in which these congregations can help those in need (Billingsley, 1999; Brown &…… [Read More]

Progress of Women After 25

The "Highlander Center," a group advocating rights for African-Americans, "were labeled as subversive and subjected to investigation, and their members were harassed," which sounds a bit more like fascism than democracy.

But were the hearings fair? No, they were highly unfair; from the very beginning, the lack of fairness was obvious to any objective observer; they were called "Hearings egarding the Communist Infiltration of the Motion Picture Industry" (held October 20-30, 1947). The proof was in prior to any fair hearing of the issues or the accused, which is a denial of democratic justice to begin with.

And meantime, the witnesses were classified as "friendly" or "unfriendly." If you were "friendly," that meant you already had cooperated with the HUAC, and had indicated a willingness to point fingers, name names, of suspected "communists," so the members of the committee (which included Congressman ichard Nixon) would look like they were doing…… [Read More]

Beginning of the End of Slavery

Lincoln-Douglas Debates and Politics in the Mid-19th Century

To the Editor of the Freeport Press:

I am writing today to express my strong support for Abraham Lincoln's candidacy in the upcoming Senatorial elections. There are many reasons why I have decided to vote for a Republican -- going against my life-long commitment to the Democratic Party -- not the least of which is the way in which Lincoln stood up to the demagoguery of Mr. Douglas. While Lincoln showed great skill at oratory, Douglas' dirty tactics and his obsession with the idea that Negroes are less than human have contributed to my decision in this election.

In fact, when Douglass loudly asserted that Republicans who supported an end to slavery were something akin to demons, I was outraged. When Douglas said he would "…nail it [Republican platforms] upon the back of every Black Republican in the state," he alienated me,…… [Read More]

Nurses and Politics There Are

Des Jardins argues that in fact nurses have a moral and ethical obligation to participate in their government in every way available to them, starting with registering to vote, so they can support candidates and issues they believe will support good health for the society in which they live.

In addition, Helms, et. al. (1996) argue that attempting to influence policy at the hospital level as well as for local, state and national politics is important for nurses who work in a time of change. They encourage nurses to work together and try to help find solutions for the serious issues facing health care today. They particularly encourage nurses to be active regarding health issues, such as the changing laws for Medicare. These authors urge nurses to consider what actions could be implemented as a mode for positive change within the health community.

Nurses may feel that for whatever reason…… [Read More]

Tax on Obesity

prediction comparison vote real members House Representatives a law. 1. You choose real members House Representatives, Republican Democrat. (There 435 members House, find interests .

A tax on obesity as seen by Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives Bill Cassidy and Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives James McGovern

Obesity has come to be a significant issue in the United States today, with more and more individuals displaying the malady's symptoms. As a consequence, the authorities have gotten actively involved in trying to control it through installing tougher regulation and by implementing programs meant to educate people with regard to attitudes they should take toward the concept. hile agreeing about the significance of this issue, American politicians seem to have different opinions on the matter -- some believe that the solution stays with tougher legislations while others consider that it all comes down to education and…… [Read More]

Electoral Behavior in Elections

The voter is grappling with an economic landscape that has seen income inequality increase, with the elites enjoying prosperity; while the middle class hemorrhages wealth and loses income.

The economic variable is the most prominent short-term factor which affects the voter however, equally pressing is the "long-term predisposition" (Miller, W. & Niemi, R. 2002. P. 170) of the voter concerning; "an egalitarian/free-market values dimension that contrasts egalitarian or socialist vs. laissez-faire or free-market values" (Miller, W. & Niemi, R. 2002. P. 172). Voters in Europe and The U.S. are confronted with this polemical; the social democracy governed by a redistribution mentality, or the allure of capitalism and wealth creation despite its penchant for gyrations and economic uncertainty. The coming elections have at their core these fundamental choices based on both short-term and long-term factors, yet will voters have the ability, tools, or option to cast a vote representative of their…… [Read More]

Florida Congressmen

Vote Spotter App Report: Palm Harbor, Florida

The "Vote Spotter" app provided the partisan affiliation and voting record on key legislation results for congressional members of the U.S. House and Senate for Palm Harbor, Florida shown in Tables 1 and 2 respectively below (the Vote Spotter app did not indicate that any of the Floridian congressmen sponsored or co-sponsored any legislation).

House of Representatives

Voting Record on Key Legislation

Gus Bilirakis

Republican

HB 5946 (exempts Olympic prizes from taxes)

HB 5931 (prohibits prisoner release payments to Iran)

HB 3438 (allows delay of expensive regulations)

HB 3590 (keep income tax deductions from medical expenses)

Yes: HB 5461 (requires report on Iranian officials' assets)

Table 2 -- U.S. Senate

Partisan Affiliation

Voting Record on Key Legislation

Bill Nelson

Democrat

Yes: SB 2040 (override the veto of legislation allowing terrorism lawsuits)

Yes: U.S. Senate Joint resolution (support sale of military equipment to Saudi…… [Read More]

Robert Dahl and Democracy's Demise

" Granted, even Dahl admitted that no state or nation would ever be able to create a totally fair and just society. In his essay "Justifying Democracy" he acknowledged that "…the values and goals I advocate and hope will prevail will always be strongly contested" (Dahl, 47). He goes on to say that he is not at all confident that his values "…will necessarily predominate," but they will not become reality "…if those who believe in these goals fail to support them as best they can" (47).

Certainly his goal for a fair and just America does not include support for the draconian policies put forward by those who seek to limit the voters purely out of a corrupt passion for power. That having been said, every sincere leader of every democratic state should have as a top priority the desire to make democracy work for all citizens. Every leader…… [Read More]

Politics Six Questions & Discussion on American

Politics

Six Questions & Discussion on American Politics

Constitutional Convention

During the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, two primary plans were forwarded that shaped the development and discussion at the convention that would forever impact the shape of American politics. The first plan, the Virginia Plan, introduced by Governor Randolph, was an effort to simply revise the existing Articles of Confederation. It was characterized by three major points: the structural exclusion of states from elections and representation at the national level, reductions of powers to individual states, and the abandonment of the some national features of republicanism like institutional separation of powers. The Virginia Plan was countered by two alternative plans, and a division at the Convention: the New Jersey Plan that believed the Virginia Plan went too far in affording power to the national government, and the Hamilton Plan that argued the Virginia Plan didn't go far enough (Lloyd).…… [Read More]

DNC Should Decide on a

This represents and should represent the last solution that the DNC could find, given the limited time until June. It is not the best solution, but it is definitely the best one under the current circumstances. The re-vote solution, if the necessary conditions are fulfilled, would be the fairest solution to the matter. Yet, under the circumstances that shall be explained in the following paragraphs, a re-vote is considered too complicated, time constraining and could create even more scandal within the Democrat Party.

In order to support the 50/50 position and the half-vote per delegate, one should analyze the other two possibilities, and by elimination, this one becomes the optimal one. The first solution, which Mrs. Clinton supports given her results, is to seat the delegates on the basis of the primaries results. Yet, if the DNC takes this decision, it would create a precedent for other states to dodge…… [Read More]

Perception of Leadership Styles and Trust Across Cultures and Gender

56th President of the United States which has represents an unprecedented race in the American Democratic Party between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. he relationship of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's leadership styles from the perspective of four distinct variables: gender, culture, trust and likelihood of voting. he author believes that the perception of fairness is the single most essential leadership trait which leaders should acquire in order to garner trust and commitment among voters. Consequently, the author also believes that this also applies to leadership in the business world.

he article conducts a literature review that focuses on different aspects of leadership. here is some controversy in the study of leadership as the author alludes to. here are several research studies that show that there is empirical evidence to suggest that leaders play a critical part in an organization working toward organizational goals. However, some of works have…… [Read More]

Strategic Use and Impact of Social Media in the 2012 Elections

Strategic Use and Impact of Social Media in the 2012 Elections

The goal of the research is to find evidence of the use and impact of social media in U.S.'s 2012 presidential elections. This is because it was reported that President Obama won the elections because of the ground operation presented by volunteers of his elections' campaigns (CNN ire 1). I chose this topic since reports in state media indicated that the Republican Party was heading in the pre-election polls, but in the end, the Democratic Party won due to the use of technological innovation (Edsall 1). An in depth analysis of the research problem intends to reveal that the presidential contest favored President Obama, for using social media. Social media is increasingly an easy, fast, and effective way for people to have personal contact through technology. The intention is to prove the political premise that the most effective means…… [Read More]