The Role Of Voting In 2016 Elections

516 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What is the correlation between education and interest in political participation

THE ROLE OF VOTERS During the days leading up to the results of the 2016 election, many people, the general public and specialists alike, were not expecting Donald Trump to win. While the expectations versus realities of voter turnout were definitely the reason for such a different outcome than what was predicted, but it’s misleading to focus too much attention on one demographic when trying to explain the election results. When it comes to the 2016 election, the demographics of who most voted for Trump are equally, if not more important, than the ones of those who chose not to vote at all. Focusing on white working-class voters only covers half of story that was the 2016 presidential election, and the other half, including non-voters and the other majorities that voted Trump, is just as essential. …show more content…

58% of white people in general voted for him, which was a whole 21% higher than the next highest category that had a majority of Trump votes and was definitely enough to make a dent in the results (Huang et al., 2018). However, within the 58%, polls by the Wall Street Journal actually showed he had dropped in popularity by 7% in the working class subset and instead gained popularity with the wealthy, upper class. On the opposite side, Hillary was leading in families with incomes lower than $50,000, many of which constitute the working class (victory, 2018). By making the decision to chalk up the election to those white and working class that did go out and vote Trump, other groups of people that were equally responsible go

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Waking Up White By Jan Arminio

    1324 Words  | 3 Pages

    The poor whites are looked down on from the rich whites. “The black children learned to fear poor whites more than other whites simply because they were known to express their racism by brutal and brutal acts of violence. The white trash flaunted their poverty and weren’t ashamed. Most poor white folks didn’t want to live anywhere near black folks “Hooks pg.199). “The white poor in fact make up the vast majority of the poor in this society. Then, the mass migration of poor blacks from southern states to northern cities created a huge urban poor population, where the white poor continued to live in isolated rural and suburban areas.” (Hooks pg.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Charles Murray's Coming Apart: The State Of White America

    1519 Words  | 4 Pages

    The most important way as to how the elite continues to control power is through the media. In Charles Murray’s “Coming Apart: The State of White America 1960-2010,” he speaks about how there is a new upper class made up of people in notable positions in society. This new upper class is composed of the narrow elite and the broad elite, in which the narrow elite has an effect on the culture, politics, and institutions in the nation while the broad elite only has an effect on the local level. While the elite once lived in neighborhoods that were slightly more mixed in terms blue collar and white collar success, they now live in what are considered Superzips, which are areas in which the 95th to 99th percentile of the most successful and well educated Americans live. White Americans constitute for 82% of Superzip inhabitants, compared to 8% Asian, and

    Read More

  • Gregory Mantsios Class In America Analysis

    795 Words  | 2 Pages

    In "Class in America", Gregory Mantsios says that "when politicians and social commentators draw attention to the plight of the poor, they do so in a manner that obscures the class structure and denies any sense of exploitation." Based off our readings, class discussion and films, income inequality is known to be erased or ignore. Our society frowns upon the expression of income in our daily conversations, as it could be seen braggy or a complaint depending on your status of income. Because it's frowned upon to talk about, the topic of income inequality becomes erased or ignored. In addition, income inequality in America's class structure can affect people's ability to reach their American Dream.

    Read More

  • Voter Turnout Decline in the United States

    2612 Words  | 6 Pages

    The United States national elections have been experiencing a steady decline of eligible voters showing up to vote. This steady decline has been ongoing since experiencing a significant increase in voter turnout from 1948 through 1960. Over the years there has been significant, meticulous research done to try to pinpoint the cause of the decline in voter turnout over years. All of this research has led to the production of an enormous number of literatures written on the perceived causes. The vast amount of literature produced has led to a number of competing explanations about this decline. The quest for the answer to the question of, why this decline in voter turnout, is very important for an overwhelming majority of Americans and our democratic system because the people/voters can only truly be represented by our government if all eligible voters go out and vote. For this paper I will examine four theories that attempt to explain the decline. The four theories that I will discuss are voting barriers, campaign contributions, negative campaign advertising, and finally the cultural explanation. However, through thorough exploration and critiques of the strengths and weaknesses of these four theories, we will find that the cultural explanation theory is currently the most persuasive theory in the group. Finally, I will also explore some reasons as to why citizens do vote as well.

    Read More

  • Voting Participation in the United States

    1081 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to a study done by Nonprofit Vote only “an estimated 58.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote” ("Voter Turnout" ) in 2012’s presidential election, which is below the 62% that was achieved in 2008. (Ginsberg 306). According to the United States Census Bureau in 2012 71.2 percent of Americans reported that they were registered to vote, but only 61.8 reported that they actually did so. ("Voting and Registration"). While each source didn’t report the exact same statistics in America these percentages are considered highs in political participation. Even worse, in midterm elections voter turnout is normally closer to 33% and even lower for any local elections. (Ginsberg 306). While we may consider any of those statistics good for America, looking at world democracies we are trailing far behind, in many “European countries and other western democracies [the] national voter turnout is usually between 70 to 90 percent.”(Ginsberg 306). The question is then asked why don’t American’s vote, which is then an...

    Read More

  • Voter Participation in the United States

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    From its early period, the United States has obtained an indirect type of democracy, and has always had contentment that its citizens are allowed to vote for their representatives, especially the President. Nevertheless, the amount of citizens that actually vote in nationwide elections has decreased noticeably over the years. Voter participation and turnout has been declining in the United States throughout history. Voter turnout, the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote (Ginsberg), to this day is lower than it was in the 1900’s. Since 1912, presidential elections have only had about 50 to 65 percent of Americans participate. This means that about half of United States citizens who are eligible and have the freedom to vote have failed to participate in presidential elections. At the end of the nineteenth century voter turnout started plummeting, reaching the 60 percent level by the election of 1912 (Teixeira, 1987). The declining rate of voter participation in the United States is due to voter registration and procedu...

    Read More

  • The Gilded Age And The Gilded Age

    1376 Words  | 3 Pages

    After the civil war, the United States had deep social divisions that strictly divided the classes. This period of time was called the Gilded Age. The economy was shifting more and more towards an industrial one, manufacturing in the United States was more than the greater powers of Europe combined. With these industries, there were huge monopolies over steel, oil, and various other markets. The wealthy over these corporations had much influence in the government and politics. All the while, the lower classes were led to believe that they had something wrong with them. They were told they had a “lack of character” that prevented them from being successful (Foner pg. 121). The upper class as well as many economists believed that being successful from unskilled labor was impossible. They believed that entrepreneurial skills were the only thing that would allow people to become successful. The labor movement vehemently disagreed with this. They knew that the reason why most lower class workers would never be promoted or paid a livable wage was because the wealthy believed they were subhuman. They held strikes and rallies against the big corporations, such as the Great Railroad Strike, and the Pullman Strike, but their voices were ignored. .

    Read More

  • Four Freedoms

    2334 Words  | 5 Pages

    During the Gilded Age white were understood to be at the top and all other ethnicities were below them as well in the 1941, however during the 1950-1980 things were starting to change but not dramatically. White men in all three periods were allowed to speak their minds and say whatever they wanted because in their minds they understood that they were at the top.4 For example, white men joined forces and created the unions to go against the overbearing power of corporations.5 These corporations c...

    Read More

  • Examples Of Voter Turnout In 2004 Elections

    228 Words  | 1 Pages

    If we imagine how voter turnout used to be in the later elections back then, it was nothing compared to how they are today. For example, if we examine the 2004 and 2008 election. We can conclude that the voter turnout in the 2004 election was greatly impressive. Altogether, Bush received around 62,000,000 votes. Why? because people actually came out to vote during this election and he even had a 6.4% higher numbers than in 2000. The 2008 election, we can see a higher voter turnout among African Americans particularly young voters. For example, compared to the 2004 election, a record 55.4% of blacks voted in 2008 than 47.1% in 2004 between the ages of 18-24. Between 25-44 years old, 64% of blacks voted in 2008 while 59.3% voted for Bush in 2004.

    Read More

  • Voter Turnout Assignment

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    Voting is one of the citizens’ rights living in a country. In the past, not everyone can vote. Voting used to be for only white American men. However, our ancestors fought for that rights. Eventually, any American who are older than eighteen can vote, despite their race or gender. In addition, voter turnout is used to keep track of the voting. It is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Unfortunately, the voter turnout has been decreasing over time, and it means that there are less and fewer people who actually show up and vote. This essay will discuss the voter turnout in Harris County, Texas.

    Read More

  • Race In Barack Obama

    1518 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...0usd a year went to Obama. People who make $100000usd to $150000usd and $150000usd to $200000usd, voted in favour of McCain, at 51% and 50% respectively. Obama, however, got the majority vote of the people who make over $200000usd a year. This was 52%. 52% of college educated American voted for Obama versus a 46%age for McCain. Obama also got 69% of first time voters and 50% of return voters. 60% of Americans who possesses a moderate ideology voted in favour of Obama. Obama was also successful in obtain majority votes of the different religious groups, with only Protestants giving McCain the majority which was 54%. 52% of married Americans voted for McCain and 65% of unmarried supported Obama. Majority of the gay and lesbian population also supported Obama with 70% of their votes. These statistics shows that race was not the factor which contributed to Obama’s win.

    Read More

  • The Problems with Voting in America

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    If one were to look at the voting history as of late in America you would surely find information on the Florida catastrophe in 2000. The problem with our voting system today is in the technology being used; many demographic groups find our current systems confusing and hard to use. As voters step into the polling places this election year many will be voting through new devices some even sporting “touch screen” technology and we can only hope that the new technology is understood and accepted.

    Read More

  • Class Distinctions in America

    5794 Words  | 12 Pages

    The ideal concept of American society is one in which all of the citizens are treated equal in all every realm and situation. Class, race or gender does not divide the utopian America; everyone is afforded the same opportunities and chances for success. In this chimerical state Americans are able to go as far as their dreams allow and with hard work and perseverance any thing is possible. Many Americans subscribe to this pluralist view of the Country, believing that within our democratic system it is the majority who maintains control and sets policy. Unfortunately this idyllic country does not exist nor has it ever existed. America is made up of distinct social classes and the movement within those classes is for the most part, limited to the various classes in the middle where the lines of demarcation are blurred. Although the majority of the Country's population would attest to the myth that America is a classless society, the distinctions definitely exist and influence the entire life scope of most Americans. Housing, health care, education, career prospects and social status are all dependent on the amount of wealth one has and their class standing. Our system needs the built in inequities of the class system in order to perpetuate itself and the upper class needs to have their interests as the dominant determiner of corporate and governmental power and policy.

    Read More

  • Voter Turnout?

    2036 Words  | 5 Pages

    Voter turnout has been declining in the United States throughout history, due to the potential voters’ personal choice not to vote and ineligibility. According to research, a large percentage of individuals are not voting because political parties fail to appeal to the voters and this leads to the voting population losing interest in the campaign, while others postpone registering and by the time they realize their delay the election is upon them. This downward trend of voter turnout can be traced to the reforms of the Progressive era. Turnout in post-Progressive era America remained low, never reaching the levels attained before the Progressive era reforms. This would be expected, since there is little in the political history of these years that would indicate a return to a collectively oriented system of voter participation.

    Read More

  • Donald Trump: Sexualizing And Defeating Hillary Clinton

    272 Words  | 1 Pages

    On November 9, 2016, Donald Trump was elected as the 45TH US President, defeating Hillary Clinton, and devastating millions upon millions of Americans all over. People have been told before to vote if they wanted to truly express themselves and be heard, but with this election, many Americans chose to sit out because of the candidates. Americans were completely shocked at the results of the election. While both candidates were not the ideal president, it was obvious that Donald Trump was the least favorite among the two, and his victory left all of America apathetic.

    Read More

More about The Role Of Voting In 2016 Elections

Open Document