The Vanishing Voter: Public Involvement in an Age of UncertaintyFrom the award-winning author of Out of Order—named the best political science book of the last decade by the American Political Science Association—comes this landmark book about why Americans don’t vote. Based on more than 80,000 interviews, The Vanishing Voter investigates why—despite a better educated citizenry, the end of racial barriers to voting, and simplified voter registration procedures—the percentage of voters has steadily decreased to the point that the United States now has nearly the lowest voting rate in the world. Patterson cites the blurring of differences between the political parties, the news media’s negative bias, and flaws in the election system to explain this disturbing trend while suggesting specific reforms intended to bring Americans back to the polls. Astute, far-reaching, and impeccably researched, The Vanishing Voter engages the very meaning of our relationship to our government. |
Contents
CHAPTER TWO | |
CHAPTER THREE | |
CHAPTER FOUR | |
CHAPTER FIVE | |
CHAPTER SIX | |
Afterword to the Vintage Edition | |
AppendixTHE VANISHING VOTER PROJECT | |
Notes | |
Other editions - View all
The Vanishing Voter: Public Involvement in an Age of Uncertainty Thomas E. Patterson No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
adults Al Gore American Political analysts asked attack attention audience average ballot broadcast Bush and Gore Bush’s cable Campaign Reform citizens claim Clinton Congress congressional contests decades decline delegates Democracy Democratic election coverage Election Day Election Day registration Electoral College example favors or opposes federal Federal Election Commission Florida Gore’s Hampshire Hampshire primary Ibid incumbents institutions interest involvement Iowa issues journalism journalists leaders less major Marvin Kalb million mistrust national primary nearly negative networks newscasts Nielsen Media Research nominating process nominating race nonvoters October debates participation partisans Party System party’s Patterson people’s percent political scientist politicians polls president presidential campaign presidential candidates presidential election primary debates programs Public Policy reporting Republican respondents same-day registration Senate story Super Tuesday television today’s turnout U.S. Census Bureau Ultimate Tuesday V. O. Key Vanishing Voter survey viewers voting rate Walter Dean Burnham Washington Watergate week York