A Study on Political Support and the Participation of Eligible Voters in California In Comparison To National Turnout

A Study on Political Support and the Participation of Eligible Voters in California In Comparison To National Turnout Political participation What is the voter turnout rate in last THREE (3) Presidential elections in California, and how did it compare to the voter turnout rate nationally? Was there a significant difference between the national rate and the rate in California? What are at least TWO (2) factors do you suppose might explain it? Voter turnout in presidential elections over the years has been slightly above average ranging between 50% and 63% nationally (p.172). In the recent past, 2008 presidential election had the highest voter turnout with 62.3% casting their ballots. The following presidential elections has a slightly low turnout that averaged 57.5% being a 5% decline based on the percentage turnout in 2008. The recently concluded presidential elections in 2016 had a slight improvement in voter turnout having a 58% voter turnout which was slightly higher than the percentage in 2012 although was still short by approximately 4% from the 2008 voter turnout. The changes in voter turnout are based on a number of factors that includes the appeal of the candidates to the citizens as well as the underlying political ideologies that are held by the candidates (P.173). California is one of the states in the United States that has been having an active political participation where they have been coming out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right. Voter turnout in California State in the 2008 presidential election was extremely high at 79.4% turnout. Hispanics are the majority citizens in the state by approximately 38%. The 2008 presidential election brought significant promise to the people of California especially all the minority who supported the winning candidate Barack Obama who was the first African American president in the United States. Many of the residents shared the ideology of the democrat president. Voter turnout in the following election in 2012 was slightly lower where the turnout was 72% which was 7% lower that the turnout in the 2008 elections (P.183). A key element that can help understand this development is the underlying focus on the fact that the citizens had reduced belief due to unfulfilled promises during the 2008 presidential elections. In the 2016 presidential elections, California had a 75.3% voter turnout that was higher than turnout in 2012 although still 4% lower than the 2008 voter turnout. The slight increase will most likely be attributed to the appeal of the candidates. It is important to note that in the 2016 elections, Hillary Clinton won in California mainly because she was more appealing to the Hispanics and other minority groups in the state than Donald Trump despite the fact that she was unable to win based on the Electoral College system (p.185). Political parties Which of the TWO (2) major political parties in the United States are most likely to face alignment in the coming years and why? Which of the two major political parties does your ideology most align with? Alignment in politics focuses in the underlying ideology that is being help by individuals within a given political environment. Therefore there is need to develop a greater focus on the underlying need to develop a positive understanding under which it would be possible to understand the key aspects that need to be considered. Therefore, in the United States the political parties that face alignment in the coming Republican and democratic parties. Parties are necessary and crucial within any given environment since they allow development of different ideologies and allow their followers to choose the best ideology that they are able to relate to (P. 189). American political parties are the oldest in the world and they have maintained very opposite ideologies where each party has been advancing their own ideologies based on their principles and thus they have a great following where people align themselves to either of the party in their effort to be in power. The founders of the nation disliked the notion of political parties where they asserted that they would bring disharmony and lack of understanding among the people of the United States (P.192). The divergent opinions that are raised by these parties shows that there exists less chance of having a common ideology between the members of these parties although it is important to understand that matters of national interests are handled effectively even though the methodology that is applied by one party might be different from the other. This has been quite evident over the years where the presidents have come from either side of the political divide where they have developed major policies that have been able to move the country forward as a block rather than significantly divided based on ideas or any other factors (P. 195). Between the two major political parties in the country, my ideology mostly aligns with the Democrats. I believe in social liberalism where there is a common understanding between individual liberty, social justice and common good. Progressive social causes are aimed at creating an overall positive understanding under which it is possible to have a better understanding on social development putting into consideration the wellbeing of others. I understand that there is need to focus on positive integral change that can be effectively aligned within the society where every individual plays an important role in ensuring that there is a positive development under which it is possible to move forward as a country. I like to see positive development across the different social classes. This can only be achieved based on the ideology that is being held by the Democratic Party.