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: There has been a steady increase in turnout since the 2000 presidential election, in which 51 percent of the voting-age public cast a ballot. Turnout in the 2008 election was greater than usual, at 57 percent. 2008 Election: Participation in the 2008 presidential election was greater than usual, as people were motivated by the open race and the candidate choices. Other Forms of Political Participation
Besides voting, there are many other ways to take part in politics, each involving varying amounts of skill, time, and resources. Learning Objectives
Describe several different ways in which citizens can participate in the political process
Key Takeaways
Key Points
New media and technology, such as social networking sites, blogs, online campaign donations, have provided new avenues for political organization and participation. Citizens can participate in civil society, which is an important part of political participation, through activities like volunteering, attending events associated with causes (like a sporting event or a concert), or joining an interest group or civic organization. Citizens can also protest, riot, or refuse to vote to demonstrate dissatisfaction with certain elements of their political system. Citizens also participate in politics by being directly involved in campaigns. Citizens can run for office themselves, donate money or time to candidates, or discuss political issues and campaigns with friends and family.