After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
Describe the extent of nonvoting in the 2000 presidential election.
Explain the costs and benefits of voting and understand how they differ for Americans than for those from other democracies.
Review those historical factors that have accounted for variation in American voter turnout in both the 19th and 20th centuries.
Summarize those key pieces of legislation and constitutional amendments that have expanded the suffrage. Include the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Specify those factors that initiated a decline in turnout since 1960 and why the decline has been somewhat puzzling.
Summarize and explain the roles of personal benefits, declining mobilization, and declining social connectedness in determining voter turnout.
Identify the personal characteristics, attitudes, and background of the voter and non-voter.
Summarize and critically evaluate the three
arguments that assert low turnout to be a
problem and the three arguments that assert
low turnout is not a problem.
