Influence on Voters
Mr. Young
American Government
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What are the
major factors
that influence
voters to vote
and for whom
they vote for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHaWHlJ
dUoI&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Idiot- comes from the Greek word idiotes,
which in ancient Athens referred to citizens
who did not vote or otherwise take part in
public life—they were ignorant of public affairs
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Personal Background of voter
Degree of voter loyalty to one of the political
parties
Issues of the campaign
Voters’ image of the candidates
Propaganda
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Age has a big factor on whether or not a person
votes and who the candidate is that they vote
for
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Voters’ education, religion, and racial or ethnic
background affect their voting habits
Voters’ background influences their voting but
they do not always vote the way their
background says they should
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One who is caught between conflicting
elements in his/her life such as religion,
income level, and peer pressure
Other issues are usually important, such as
campaign issues and the personalities of the
candidates
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKQAB
PI8Nc4&feature=endscreen&NR=1
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Strong Party voters tend to vote for the party
more than the issue or candidate
Straight-party ticket- one where a voter has
selected candidates of his/her party only
Weak party voters are more influenced by
issues and candidates than by parties
Independent voters usually have a weak party
loyalty, but are becoming more and more
important in Presidential elections
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Starting to see more
campaigns about
candidates and not
about parties, which
could lead to voter
apathy
Candidate- talk about
personal attributes
and character
Parties- more about
issues
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TV has helped spread campaign issues
Voters today are better educated than voters of
the past
Current issues seem to have a greater impact
on personal lives than they have in a while
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Just as important as issues themselves is the
way the voters perceive the issues
Most voters select candidate on image alone
Want president they can trust
Candidate must at least be viewed as
competent to handle to job and problems that
go with it
Candidates must then convey the impression
that they have these certain qualities
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnxSqMYknI&feature=related
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“Being a president is
like riding a tiger. A
man has to keep
riding or be
swallowed. A
president is either
constantly on top of
events, or, if he
hesitates, events will
soon be on top of
him.”
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Involves using ideas,
information, or rumors
to influence opinion.
Propaganda is not
necessarily lying or
deceptions
Uses information in any
way that supports a
predetermined objective
Voter Participation can
be reduced when this is
used, voters do not
appreciate it
There are 7 propaganda
techniques
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Name calling; identifying a candidate with a
term such as “Un-American”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7
DG0
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http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/comme
rcials/1964/peace-little-girl-daisy
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/comme
rcials/2004/any-questions
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Interpreting a political event or statement from
a particular point of view
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Giving only one side of the facts to support a
candidate’s position
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qsBGUh
69FA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uXKVjo
m734
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/comme
rcials/2008/original-mavericks
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/comme
rcials/2008/no-maverick
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Associating a patriotic symbol with a candidate
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hje8D5is4
RU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgH5PU
qMxgU
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One of the oldest, identifying the candidate as
“just one of the common people”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pueoTqY
Ttu0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpN7eU2
0VJY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71oSnNs
d9XU
http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/comme
rcials/1992/morning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRt3dWF
qs-M (start at 2:15)
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A celebrity endorses a candidate
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7PrBO6-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUL5g-9YZA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUQW
8LUMs8
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Urging voters to support a candidate because
everyone else is
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KReGP2
uW5yg
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http://factcheck.org/
This is a great website to check the facts of
different campaign ads to see if they are true,
the truth is stretched, or there is no truth at all.
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Some do not vote because they do not meet
State requirements
Three basic requirements
US Citizen
Residency- must be a resident of that state, for
at least 30 days
Registration- must register with a local election
board, good way to prevent voter fraud, almost
1/5 of Americans move to a new location every
5 years
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Higher income levels and occupational status
Usually better educated
Active in community life
Strong political party affiliation
Middle-aged
Subject to fewer cross-pressures than nonvoters
Sense of political efficacy, believe that voting is
important, and that their vote matters
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Apathy- they really do not care or are lazy
Lack of political efficacy- does not matter one
way or the other, my vote doesn’t matter
Inconvenience- long lines, bad weather, etc
“Time-zone fallout”
Social Characteristics: young (under 35),
unmarried, unskilled, rural

What are the
major factors
that influence
voters to vote
and for whom
they vote for?