Factors Affecting The Electoral Elections Of Zimbabwe And South Africa

“From 1960 to 1983 3.5 million non white South africans were taken from their home and were involuntarily put into segregated neighborhood made for them.”(rights). 1970, non whites South Africans were not allowed apart on the political side of South Africa. They were banned from doing anything with the whites of South africa; The non whites were stripped of their citizenship. About that time Nelson Mandela was 25 years old, he became involved with politics. He became a part of the ANC, or the African National Congress. The ANC began going on strikes and boycotting after the general election in South Africa in 1948 in which whites were only allowed to vote. “ At a rally on 22 June 1952, initiating protests for the ANC’s Defiance Campaign Against

Even after the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment, African Americans were “disenfranchised in the South by intimidation and electoral trickery, including whites-only primaries, rigged literacy tests, and poll taxes” (Patterson 2011, p. 180). The Freedom Riders rode through the South, enduring harassment and imprisonment to encourage other African Americans to vote. Voter turnout in African American communities is greatly encouraged. Personally, coming from an African American family, I was strongly encouraged by my parents and grandparents to vote when I was of legal age. My family instilled the importance of voting in me at a very young age. Although voter turnout among African Americans is still fairly low, in the 2008 presidential election African Americans had the second highest voter turnout, behind non-Hispanic Caucasians (African Americans, n.d.). Race can influence voter turnout because with African Americans specifically, although rates are getting better, they are still not high.

These include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Greece and Singapore, to name a few. Twelve of these nations aggressively enforce the compulsion of voting, giving penalties and charging fees who violate such law. One of these is Australia. It has been requiring its citizens to participate in federal elections since 1924. The country’s argument to this strict mandate is that it needs to address low voter turnout, which is currently below 60 percent.

Industrial Countries all over the world have seen a steady decline in voter participation; Great Britain is a great example of this. The country has witness turnout in elections falling slowly as time pass. However, the election of 2001 dropped the country from their average of 76% voter turnout to just a 59.4% turnout. Comparatively, Australia, a former colony of Britain, has enjoyed high and steady voter participation since 1924 because of the implementation of compulsory voting. This system has proven to be not only effective in bring voters to the polls, but also effective in improving Australia’s democracy. By evaluating these two countries with similar political structure; one can see the difference in compulsory voting turnouts

The decline in voter turnout is mostly awarded to the younger generations. They represent the category of people that participate the least in elections. During the 2011 elections, 38.8% of people aged 18 to 24 voted, which is an augmentation from the 37.8% in the 2008 elections (Barnes, Andre, and Erin Virgint, 2010). After a study done by elections Canada, it was showed that the new generations of voters are less likely to exercise that right today, than they would have some years ago “Only a third of first-time voters today are actually voting, half the rate of a generation ago.”( Ibbitson, John, 2011) Another reason for the turnout decline could be awarded to the lack of interest; Statistics Canada did a poll in which they asked people who had not voted why they had done so, and 28% said

The most important issue in relation to the Canadian electoral process is the debate over whether or not the state should implement electoral reform for federal elections. It is my stance that replacing the Single Member Plurality system (SMP) with the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) is undeniably in the best interest of Canadians, and I will attempt to prove this by contrasting The Limits: Electoral Systems and Electoral Reform - Or How I Came to Love SMP by Christopher Kam, who believes in the current SMP system, and Getting What You Vote For by John Hiemstra, who pushes for a change in favour of the MMP system. This paper will conclude with further critical analysis, as well as my justified stance the MMP system is clearly superior.

Voter turnout is commonly regarded as one of the most distinct issues within American politics of the last century. Though the United States once averaged a turnout rate of 78% of eligible voters in presidential elections between 1860 and 19001, the average voter turnout of the 21st century has fallen to around 52%2. The cause of the marked decline throughout the 20th century is often attributed simply to voter apathy, but the issue is much more complex. Upon analysis, it is clear that a number of factors have contributed to the decreased rate of voter turnout, of which voter apathy is perhaps the least influential. The decline in voter turnout in presidential elections from the 19th to the 20th century is most likely a result of the instatement of the Australian ballot, the structure of the American election system, and an increased disillusionment with the government over the last century.

Countries like Australia implemented laws that make more people vote because otherwise, they will be fined. 3. I could search in the internet or ask someone who knows about the voting turnout last time. There is a website called Statistics Canada where I could search and find out if the

Robert Smalls preludes his essay Election Methods in the South by stating how important the right to vote is and how it is our given right by the Constitution to be able to vote no matter perceived differences. Smalls goes into detail how the government in South Carolina is corrupt in counting the ballot and in how there is no “free ballot.” “Elections since then have been carried by perjury and fraud – two things worshipped and adored by the South Carolina Democracy.” Smalls shows us two extremes polls not being open or being open but corrupt in counting for Republicans. He shows us how much the African American people and their votes are needed to make our government stronger as a whole.

Voting is a standout amongst the most principal parts of political engagement. Numerous political researchers connect voting with the strength of the popularity based process and contend that declining voting rates might be symptomatic of a democratic deficit. Since political support can likewise impact public policy, others are worried that lower investment could bring about strategies that are not really illustrative of key voting demographics, similar to the individuals who tend to vote less. Therefore, the voter turnout rate is utilized as one pointer of political engagement. In Canada, researchers who look at voter turnout have found various

According to The Diversifying Electorate—Voting Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections), since 1996 to 2012 the African Americans who vote went up 13.2 percent (File). Ever since African Americans started voting in 1965, the percent of black people has went up due to the freedom received. When everyone votes it gives the leader(s) a better interpretation on what the country likes.

Among the many ways Africans can participate in Politics and elections, there is a significant number of Africans who do not participate where they could not elect representatives of their choice for a political post.

In a United States Government and Politics class, students learn about historical moments and the American political structure. America is seen globally as the land of the free. In fact, many people around the world believe that the United States, with its political and justice systems, is the strongest democracy in the world. However, the United States of America possesses many defects in its political system.

There are countless citizens who prefer not to vote and for various distinctive intentions. The voter turnout in the 2012 midterms, remained the lowest in any voting rotation since World War II, with merely 36.4% of the voting qualified populace placing votes. Certain of the distinctive causes for not voting include individuals believing their ballot would not count, the voting lines are tremendously extensive, registering necessities becomes perplexed, voters can be unconcerned, individuals do not like the candidates that are running for office, or simply

this low voting rate was attributed to a general lack of feeling of responsibility. As young adults age, marry, and become parents, their sense of community and responsibility increases, while their apathy toward voting decreases, (Abramson 116). Another reason for low voter turnout numbers for 18 to 24-year-olds is their generally low levels of party loyalties. Not having strong party ties decreases one's incentive to vote.