Title: Voting as Political Participation | Boundless Political Science
Headings: Voting as Political Participation
Voting as Political Participation
Voting as Political Participation
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Voting
Voter Registration: The First Step to Participation
Voter Turnout
Other Forms of Political Participation
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Contacting Public Officials
Donating Money, Time, and Resources to a Campaign
Running for Office
Participating by Protesting
Being a Part of Civil Society
Participating in Support Activities
Symbolic Participation and Symbolic Non-Participation

Content: Beginning in the 1980s, some states, including Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, made it possible for people to register on Election Day. Turnout in states that have Election Day registration averages ten points higher than in the rest of the country. The United States is one of the few democracies that requires citizens to register themselves rather than having the government take responsibility for automatically registering them. Significant steps have been taken to make registration easier, and to ensure more people can participate in elections. In 1993, Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, also known as the “motor voter” law, allowing citizens to register at motor vehicle and social service offices. “ Motor voter’s” success in increasing the ranks of registered voters differs by state depending on how well the program is publicized and executed. Voter registration also has increased as a result of online registration. Rock the Vote (RTV), a nonpartisan youth mobilization organization, established the first online voter registration initiative in 1992 with official backing from the Congressional Internet Caucus. RTV registered over 2 million new voters in 1992, 80% of whom cast a ballot, and signed up over 2.5 million voters in 2008. Voter Turnout
Over 90 percent of Americans agree with the principle that citizens have a duty to vote.