Discuss factors and barriers the impact American voting behavior and their effect on voter turnout rates in the United States.

What will be an ideal response?

Students should define or describe voter turnout and how it is measured then proceed to discussing the factors that contribute to voter turnout such as how and when an election is to take place, the “cost” of the election in terms of time and intellectual commitment, institutional factors such as voter registration requirements, absentee voting times and schedules, identification laws, and other institutional requirements. Personal factors include socioeconomic status, level of education, personal wealth, a sense of political efficacy, age, racial and ethnic identity, and partisan attachment. Specific barriers include undue registration requirements, the problem of felon disenfranchisement, ballot fallout, and problems with traditional election scheduling. Students may address these and other factors contributing to and barriers prohibiting the voting process and may contribute from their own experiences.