Political Participation Summative
As America is a democracy, our right to vote is generally lauded as being a core facet of our beliefs; there have been social conflicts throughout our history that focus completely on its denial, like the women’s suffrage movement or the Reconstruction-era call for the enfranchisement of blacks. However, despite this, political participation in America tends to be lower than in other nations (Duquette, 17). Though this can be contributed to several factors (which reach the general consensus that it only appears to be lower because it is neither required nor is voter fraud as prevalent), it is still widely believed that the levels of political participation should be increased.
It is misleading to believe completely that America has truly low voter turnout, however; a large degree of our lack of political participation is contributed to the complications of the registration process. In many European countries, registration is automatic, but in America it must be performed by the citizen in question; when compared registered voter to registered voter, America fares quite well, meaning that once registered Americans vote readily (Duquette, 17). It is the process to be allowed to vote that brings about political apathy. Efforts to increase political participation like the Motor Voter Law of 1993 which allowed citizens to register when they get their drivers license have had moderate success in increasing registration (17). As it is, according to current polled data, the largest degree of political participation- that is, from a voter turnout point of view- comes from the elderly, and to an even greater degree, elderly white citizens. These could be called “voter specialists”, in that voting is largely their only form of political participation. Other forms include those of campaigners, who get involved in campaigns, communalists, who largely focus on community activities and local government, and activists, who involve themselves in all parts of the political process (18).
All types of political participators can be argued to have at least some level of political efficacy- that is, they understand political proceedings occurring around them and are able to influence those events to some extent (Duquette, 7). One of the best ways to increase political participation is to increase political efficacy; people who can make informed decisions that have an impact are far more likely to act in the political process than those who are not; indeed, there are positive correlations between educated individuals (who, through their education, can be said to have gained internal efficacy) and their likelihood to vote (18).
Whether or not America could use more political participation from her citizens, it is true that it is a basic requirement for our system to continue as it stands. In any form- be it conventional or unconventional, local, state, or federal- participation in the political process keeps the American government representative of the body of her citizens. Though it has decreased in turnout over the years, the right to vote and participate actively in campaigns and the like are still regarded as essential rights that fuel our distinctively unique voting system and the events which result from and surround it.
Works Cited
Duquette. AP Government and Politics Curriculum Binder. Print.
**And yes, I cited my source as "Duquette". In actuality, it's all from the curriculum binder, but she said that that would be the easiest way to cite it, hence my doing so.**
