Reply #7: Dr. Robert Stein, Dean of Social Sciences, Rice University speaking [View All]

[tommcintyre]

Talking why people don't vote.

Only about 60% vote in single election, but 90% vote over four(?) year period.

Efforts to have improve has backfired - older, wealthier, whiter vote more.

Pol parties have more effect on voter turnout.

System must be simplified and streamlined - like MacDonalds, etc. so it is not so complex that it dependent on pol parties to educate, etc.

Election centers work well.

Parties don't want to increase turnout, they want to win elections.


His statement:
http://www.american.edu/ia/cfer/0630test/stein.pdf

Robert Stein is the Dean of Rice University's School of Social Sciences and the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science. His current research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and examines the impact of the federal aid system on the electoral trajectories of office holders at both the sub-national and congressional levels. Dr. Stein has served on the editorial review boards of several journals, including American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics and Social Science Review. He is also involved in political polling for the local media. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.