Why Not Vote? Political participation among low-income Philadelphians

Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Swarthmore College. Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Type
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
en
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Full copyright to this work is retained by the student author. It may only be used for non-commercial, research, and educational purposes. All other uses are restricted.
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
No restrictions
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
Low-income and working class Americans vote at significantly lower rates than their wealthier counterparts. While many believe this phenomenon is largely because of a lack of resources needed to vote (money, time, “civic skills”), some research shows that reducing the logistical barriers to voting do not in fact reduce the inequity in participation. I seek to get a more complete and nuanced understanding of low voting rates among this group though a qualitative interview project, speaking with low-income and working class Pennsylvanians who do and do not vote. Overall, the greatest barriers to participation appear to be low political engagement during upbringing, feelings of alienation, and feelings of disillusionment. I draw upon research on political socialization, political engagement within social networks, and cultural capital to seek an understanding of non-voting as an individual decision shaped by the social world.
Description
Subjects
Citation