Academic thoughts related to pros and cons of higher voter participation. Items listed aren't intended as opinions of the presenter, just a summary of thoughts raised by others for discussion with students.
2. Session Objectives
Today’s session is intended to:
• Identify viewpoints on benefits and drawbacks of voter
participation.
• Provide a landscape view of voter participation in
Johnson County.
• Identify trends in Johnson County voter participation.
• Raise potential next steps for further analysis.
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
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3. Johnson County Elections, 2005
JAN
1
2
3
4
5
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
BV 229
SH 230
GE 231
Spring Primary
Spring General
6 Gardner Parks & Recreation
7
Roeland Pk Ward 4
8
Merriam City
9
County Tax Question
5-City Primary
5-City General
Regularly Scheduled Elections
Primary
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
General
Special Elections
Mail Ballot
Polls
3
4. Johnson County Elections, 2006
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
5-City Primary
5-City General
Primary – Partisan
General - Gubernatorial
2007 Spring Primary
2007 Spring General
Regularly Scheduled Elections
Primary
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
General
Special Elections
Mail Ballot
Polls
4
5. Voter Participation
Potential Benefits
Potential Drawbacks
• Gap between winner and
loser is potentially larger.
• Reduces recounts, saves
taxpayer money.
• Ensures full
representation, avoids
policy agendas by special
interests.
• Legitimizes the current
system.
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
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6. Voter Participation
Potential Benefits
Potential Drawbacks
• Gap between winner and
loser is potentially larger.
• Can suggest a false
mandate.
• Reduces recounts, saves
taxpayer money.
• Voters less educated on
issues may drive results
that actually lead to
harmful policies.
• Ensures full
representation, avoids
policy agendas by special
interests.
• Legitimizes the current
system.
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
• Creates potential polarizing
effect.
• Participants may not be
those impacted most by the
outcome.
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7. Voter Participation
Two Americas
“(We are) left with not just political parity
but with the two Americas—dividing the country
politically, and, increasingly, culturally.”—Stanley Greenberg
• Representation in Congress, the Senate, and State Governors
is nearly split 50/50.
• The 10 percent of the voters who are undecided are most
coveted and most affect the outcome.
Vanishing Voters
“Officials, candidates, and the media have failed in their
responsibility to give Americans the type of politics that
can excite, inform, or engage them—and that will fully
and fairly reflect their will.”—Thomas Patterson
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
7
10. Further Areas of Study
Further research that would bring greater learnings:
• Understand national and regional trends, including urban
vs. rural, socio-economic, and demographic trends.
• Identify more specifically the reasons why persons do not
vote and determine specific root causes, if any.
• Cite examples where efforts to raise voter participation
appeared successful and determine if they actually were.
Brian D. Newby, February 17, 2006
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