Week 6 Online Reading Notes
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Week 6 Online Reading
12/04/2009
Introduction
•
What is evident about voter turnout ○ Decline is not connected solely to most recent federal election ○ Decline is not necessarily connected to political issues and events specific to Canada. ○ Voter turnout also declining in many other industrialized nations.
Implications of Declining Turnout
•
Issue of voter turnout has become more important in Canada
•
Observers link decline in participation to more fundamental issues of modern democracy
•
Voting is most fundamental democratic exercise in Canada, therefore decline may be part of a larger ‘democratic deficit’
○ If social and political issues are long-term, more negative effects are to come. Predicted to decline, simply as a result of demographic processes of population replacement.
Survey of Voters and Non-Voters
•
To investigate causes and consequences of continued decline
•
Sample included short screened interviews with 5,637 Canadians
○ Long screen interviews with 960 voters in 2000 elections and 960 non-voters •
Article to highlight.. ○ generational patterns of not voting ○ reasons behind it ○ perceptions of both younger and older voters of possible solutions to the problem.
•
As seen in table 1, each age group decreased in level of voting
•
Lower rates in youth voting is not unsual because of life cycle
○ Interpreted as a pattern and concerning specific behavioural characteristics It is to be expected to increase with age because older people become more politically aware and engaged. •
Rates should also increase due to rising levels of education, ○ However youth are still not entering electorate until older average age. This could cause implications for political system
Ie. who gets voted, and the issues that are given priority
Reasons for Not Voting
•
Non-Voters were asked why they chose not to vote ○ 3 main categories Lack of interest Negativity Personal/Administrative
•
Younger age group reported ○ Too busy (mostly Personal/Administrative reasons) ○ Lack of interest was popular for both younger groups surveyed
•
Mid-aged groups (mid-30’s and mid-50’s) ○ Reported more likely to have negative feelings towards politicians, parties, etc. Higher than both older ages and younger
•
Groups were asked why youth are less likely to vote ○ Two categories Not integrated Disengagement
•
Not integrated (distanced from politics) gave these responses ○ Youth do not believe that government represents them or cares about their views, their needs and their issues. ○ The age difference distances youth from the political process and the politicians. ○ Political parties do not reach out to them or are out of touch with youth. ○ Youth feel that politics does not affect them, perhaps because they have not yet developed the responsibilities that are the subject of political discourse. ○ No one listens to young people; they have no voice.
•
Overall strong feeling youth lack connection to current political system. ○ Assumed that youth have lack of political info.
Youth don’t know how politics affect them ○ Over 80 percent of under-25 age group were in notintegrated category •
Young peeps don’t trust dem political peeps in runnin’ our countries showtings ○ Old peeps think that youngings are just overall negative on political life
Raising Young Peeps interest in Politics
•
Peeps were asked what needs to be done to increase interest ○ A majority said improved education and made more relevant to issues youth have experienced
•
Political system change ○ Issues should pertain to youth more ○ Jobs, education, future of youth, etc ○ 2/3 of peeps were ‘somewhat supportive’ of reforms to introduce greater proportionality.
Majority however opposed compulsory voting ○ Youngest age cohorts were most opposed to mandatory voting •
Changes in conduct of politics ○ Peeps agreed there should be more honesty, accountability ○ Also the use of technology (ie. internet voting)
Concluding solution..
•
making voting easier and more meaningful for first-time voters; making politics more relevant to the young; providing them with the tools they need to understand its relevance to their own lives, engaging them more directly in the political process. ○ But fundamental changes in Canada must happen first
12/04/2009
12/04/2009
12/04/2009
Introduction
•
What is evident about voter turnout ○ Decline is not connected solely to most recent federal election ○ Decline is not necessarily connected to political issues and events specific to Canada. ○ Voter turnout also declining in many other industrialized nations.
Implications of Declining Turnout
•
Issue of voter turnout has become more important in Canada
•
Observers link decline in participation to more fundamental issues of modern democracy
•
Voting is most fundamental democratic exercise in Canada, therefore decline may be part of a larger ‘democratic deficit’
○ If social and political issues are long-term, more negative effects are to come. Predicted to decline, simply as a result of demographic processes of population replacement.
Survey of Voters and Non-Voters
•
To investigate causes and consequences of continued decline
•
Sample included short screened interviews with 5,637 Canadians
○ Long screen interviews with 960 voters in 2000 elections and 960 non-voters •
Article to highlight.. ○ generational patterns of not voting ○ reasons behind it ○ perceptions of both younger and older voters of possible solutions to the problem.
•
As seen in table 1, each age group decreased in level of voting
•
Lower rates in youth voting is not unsual because of life cycle
○ Interpreted as a pattern and concerning specific behavioural characteristics It is to be expected to increase with age because older people become more politically aware and engaged. •
Rates should also increase due to rising levels of education, ○ However youth are still not entering electorate until older average age. This could cause implications for political system
Ie. who gets voted, and the issues that are given priority
Reasons for Not Voting
•
Non-Voters were asked why they chose not to vote ○ 3 main categories Lack of interest Negativity Personal/Administrative
•
Younger age group reported ○ Too busy (mostly Personal/Administrative reasons) ○ Lack of interest was popular for both younger groups surveyed
•
Mid-aged groups (mid-30’s and mid-50’s) ○ Reported more likely to have negative feelings towards politicians, parties, etc. Higher than both older ages and younger
•
Groups were asked why youth are less likely to vote ○ Two categories Not integrated Disengagement
•
Not integrated (distanced from politics) gave these responses ○ Youth do not believe that government represents them or cares about their views, their needs and their issues. ○ The age difference distances youth from the political process and the politicians. ○ Political parties do not reach out to them or are out of touch with youth. ○ Youth feel that politics does not affect them, perhaps because they have not yet developed the responsibilities that are the subject of political discourse. ○ No one listens to young people; they have no voice.
•
Overall strong feeling youth lack connection to current political system. ○ Assumed that youth have lack of political info.
Youth don’t know how politics affect them ○ Over 80 percent of under-25 age group were in notintegrated category •
Young peeps don’t trust dem political peeps in runnin’ our countries showtings ○ Old peeps think that youngings are just overall negative on political life
Raising Young Peeps interest in Politics
•
Peeps were asked what needs to be done to increase interest ○ A majority said improved education and made more relevant to issues youth have experienced
•
Political system change ○ Issues should pertain to youth more ○ Jobs, education, future of youth, etc ○ 2/3 of peeps were ‘somewhat supportive’ of reforms to introduce greater proportionality.
Majority however opposed compulsory voting ○ Youngest age cohorts were most opposed to mandatory voting •
Changes in conduct of politics ○ Peeps agreed there should be more honesty, accountability ○ Also the use of technology (ie. internet voting)
Concluding solution..
•
making voting easier and more meaningful for first-time voters; making politics more relevant to the young; providing them with the tools they need to understand its relevance to their own lives, engaging them more directly in the political process. ○ But fundamental changes in Canada must happen first
12/04/2009
12/04/2009
