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Low voter turnout does not threaten democracy in America

Low voter turnout does not threaten democracy in America. By: Asia Adona , Brynna Neufeld and Jace Reyes. What is Democracy?. A system of selection of policy-makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to public preferences. Main Points.

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Low voter turnout does not threaten democracy in America

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  1. Low voter turnout does not threaten democracy in America By: Asia Adona, Brynna Neufeld and Jace Reyes

  2. What is Democracy? A system of selection of policy-makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to public preferences.

  3. Main Points • The perseverance of Democracy • Hyperpluralism • Electoral College continues to function

  4. Democracy won’t quit • Our country’s founding fathers instituted voting requirements -- White -- Male -- Property owning • This excluded all of the slave population and the white Americans that did not own land • Leaving between 10% - 16% to vote in the 1792 presidential election • The large majority of the American population could not vote until the 15th amendment was passed in 1870

  5. Infoplease.com

  6. National Voter Turnout Percentage

  7. Electoral College • Protects election when there is a low voter turnout • Majority of states’ votes determine which way electoral votes go • Still functions if less people vote • It was created to represent the people, and whether or not they vote, each person is represented • 538 electoral votes in 2008 election, 270 needed for majority -- not affected by number of voters

  8. Hyperpluralism • Less voting leaves campaigning open to ideas/arguments • Letting the people have a say in their government is crucial in a healthy democracy • However, too much say becomes detrimental Too many votes Too many opinions Weakened Central Government

  9. Rebuttal • The more voters there are, the more likely policy gridlock will occur -- Policy gridlock slows the federal government -- a slow federal government creates a lack of representation • Thus, too many voters can decrease representation • Less voters increase the balance of the minority and majority population • 1 vote = 1 vote. No person has any more say than another.

  10. Works Cited • "National Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960-2010." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Family Education Network. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html>. • "U. S. Electoral College." National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2008/election-results.html>. • "U.S. Voting Rights." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Family Education Network. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.infoplease.com/timelines/voting.html>. • "African-American Population — Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Family Education Network. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922246.html>.

  11. Works cited continued • Schlimmer, Scott. "Low Voter Turnout - Paris Hilton Didn't Vote, Despite Wearing a Vote or Die Baby T-shirt."  Associated Content from Yahoo! - Associatedcontent.com. Yahoo! Inc, 31 Oct. 2006. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/77733/low_voter_turnout_paris_hilton_didnt.html?cat=37>.

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