Title: 8.1 What Is Political Participation? – American Government and Politics in the Information Age
Headings: 8.1 What Is Political Participation?
8.1 What Is Political Participation?
Learning Objectives
Types of Political Participation
Voting
Voter Qualifications
Barriers to Voting
Disenfranchisement of Felons
Turnout
Democratic Participation
Contacting Public Officials
Contributing Money
Campaign Activity
Running for and Holding Public Office
Protest Activity
Comparing Coverage
Link
Video Clip
Participation in Groups
Volunteering
Key Takeaways
Exercises
References

Content: Turnout in presidential elections in the 1960s was over 60 percent. More voters were mobilized during this period of political upheaval in which people focused on issues of race relations, social welfare, and the Vietnam War (Piven & Cloward, 2000). Turnout was lower in the 1980s and 1990s, when the political climate was less tumultuous. 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 was 55 percent in 2004 and 57 percent in 2008, when 132,618,580 people went to the polls (McDonald). Turnout varies significantly across localities. Some regions have an established culture of political participation. Local elections in small towns in New England draw up to 80 percent of qualified voters. Over 70 percent of Minnesota voters cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election compared with 51 percent in Hawaii and West Virginia (McDonald). Turnout figures can be skewed by undercounting the vote.