Parties & Elections

Parties & Elections
Turnout in the 2016 presidential election is at the core of the discussions about the surprising election results- Please read this PBS article (also pasted
below) and respond to it in a blog piece answering the questions below:

[El The article notes that turnout in the presidential election was approximately 58% of eligible voters, how does this number compare to turnout rates in
recent elections? How does it compare to turnout rates before 1896?

[El The national party conventions were held earlier than usual during this presidential election (in the summer instead of early fall)- What is the role of
conventions in the national election? Do you think the conventions had an impact on turnout in the presidential election? Why or why not?

[El The article discusses the potential negative effects of voter id laws on turnout, and also notes voting laws might not had any known effect on participation-
Using any one of the articles one of your classmates posted on the second extra credit discussion post, discuss what impact if any you think voter id laws had
on turnout this past year.

[El Did the US. have restrictive voter laws in the past? How do these compare to current voter id laws?

[El The article discusses changes in the composition of the electorate this past year. Do you think this reflects mass polarization? Is the electorate polarized?
Instructions: For the purposes of this assignment, a blog piece is no different than a newspaper article- The difference is that it may include your opinion, you
take a specific position on an issue or issues