29-03-21
LECTURE 19:VOTER TURNOUT
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
→ Explain the civic voluntarism model
→ Characterize trends in turnout in Canada
→ Identify long- and short-term sources of turnout decline
DAHL’S “CRITERIA FOR A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS”
→ Why might we be concerned about the level of turnout?
1) Effective participation: “equal and effective opportunities for making… views known”. →
voting is a way of making citizens’ views known
2) Voting equality: “an equal and effective opportunity to vote, and all votes must be counted as
equal”. → every vote is equal and makes citizens equal
5) Inclusion of adults: “All, or at least at any rate most, adult permanent residents should have the
full rights of citizens”. → right to vote
WHY DOES TURNOUT MATTER?
→ Political equality: if certain groups vote more or less then their influence is not equal.
→ Representation: if the electorate doesn’t reflect the population, then the latter’s preferences
may not be conveyed to the government.
→ Participation and legitimacy: democracy requires extensive participation for its outcomes (ex.
law) to be seen as rightfully binding.
TURNOUT TRENDS IN CANADA
→ The collapse after 1988 makes the long-run decline
look more impressive.
→ There is a modest trend, but also local fluctuations.
→ The picture suggests:
-A long-run, slow-moving process
-A short-run, fast-moving process
THE CIVIC VOLUNTARISM MODEL:
→ Motivation (Motive): A psychological need or desire
that is satisfied through participation (e.g. political
interest, civic duty, habit). / socialization process of
“appropriate behaviour” / sense of obligation
→ Resources (Means): Capacities or abilities that facilitate participation (e.g. knowledge, money, time).
→ Recruitment (Opportunity): Exposure to opportunities for political participation (e.g. social networks,
access).
LECTURE 19:VOTER TURNOUT
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
→ Explain the civic voluntarism model
→ Characterize trends in turnout in Canada
→ Identify long- and short-term sources of turnout decline
DAHL’S “CRITERIA FOR A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS”
→ Why might we be concerned about the level of turnout?
1) Effective participation: “equal and effective opportunities for making… views known”. →
voting is a way of making citizens’ views known
2) Voting equality: “an equal and effective opportunity to vote, and all votes must be counted as
equal”. → every vote is equal and makes citizens equal
5) Inclusion of adults: “All, or at least at any rate most, adult permanent residents should have the
full rights of citizens”. → right to vote
WHY DOES TURNOUT MATTER?
→ Political equality: if certain groups vote more or less then their influence is not equal.
→ Representation: if the electorate doesn’t reflect the population, then the latter’s preferences
may not be conveyed to the government.
→ Participation and legitimacy: democracy requires extensive participation for its outcomes (ex.
law) to be seen as rightfully binding.
TURNOUT TRENDS IN CANADA
→ The collapse after 1988 makes the long-run decline
look more impressive.
→ There is a modest trend, but also local fluctuations.
→ The picture suggests:
-A long-run, slow-moving process
-A short-run, fast-moving process
THE CIVIC VOLUNTARISM MODEL:
→ Motivation (Motive): A psychological need or desire
that is satisfied through participation (e.g. political
interest, civic duty, habit). / socialization process of
“appropriate behaviour” / sense of obligation
→ Resources (Means): Capacities or abilities that facilitate participation (e.g. knowledge, money, time).
→ Recruitment (Opportunity): Exposure to opportunities for political participation (e.g. social networks,
access).
