Older People and Political Engagement: From Avid Voters to 'Cooled-Out Marks'

摘要: The dynamics of 'senior citizenship.' There is little doubt that older Americans are highly engaged in political participation. They vote, contribute to and work campaigns, contact public officials, serve on local advisory boards councils aging. also participate processes created especially for them, such as the White House Conferences Aging, have been convened periodically years Washington, D.C., and, at state level, "silverhaired legislatures." In addition, millions them belong mass-membership organizations engage activity. As mit scientist Andrea Campbell has observed, people "are indeed senior citizens, fully incorporated into social citizenship" (Campbell, 2003, p. 65). Voting type activity by most amenable nationwide, ongoing documentation (through U.S. Census data election exit polls). It arena widely publicized. elections approach, presidential elections, journalists, pollsters, campaign strategists mobilize a perennial cliche: Senior voters key battleground this election. One reason cliche readily identifiable program constituency old-age policies Social Security Medicare. Therefore, seniors tempting target, particularly because they potentially swing voters, not committed heavily bloc either Democratic or Republican party. Participation rates people. A second viewed an important electoral target turn out vote higher rate than do members other age groups. Table 1 shows, past seven individuals 65 voted substantially those 18-24 25-44 groups, (except 1980 1984) high 45-64 group. same patterns age-group turnouts occurred congressional elections. consequence their comparatively voting rate, some thirty constituted larger share who actually percentage voting-age population constitute. For instance, 2004 election, cast 19 percent votes, even though were only 16 (U.S. Bureau, 2005). Reasons Why younger people? This question difficult answer various groups composed different birth cohorts over time, context each different. Moreover, although connection between participation investigated great deal, reasons relationship remain source controversy. contributing factor differences registration, essential precursor voting. 2 shows from 2004, registration among was consistently highest youngest two-stage study voter turnout national (Timpone, 1998) found increased (from 18 88) robustly associated with being registered (as generally reflected 2). influential (among twenty-one variables) distinguishing registrants nonregistrants. Another aging-related factor, length residence one's home, had substantial influence registration. theory weE-informed about politics affairs more likely register suggests additional may fact …