Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, November 4, 2016
Political Engagement -- Hawaii Ranks 47th
By Selected News Articles @ 3:15 AM :: 6275 Views :: Hawaii Statistics, Office of Elections

2016’s Most & Least Politically Engaged States

From  Wallet Hub,  Nov 1, 2016

Civic participation is a key ingredient of a well-functioning democracy, and voter turnout is one measure of the public’s trust in government. But there’s evidence to suggest a growing lack of political engagement among Americans.

In the 2014 midterm elections, for instance, 15 of the first 25 statewide primary elections reported record-low voter turnouts. Overall, only 14.8 percent of the electorate cast their ballots compared with 18.3 percent in 2010. This downward pattern has continued since the 1960s, similar to the trend in presidential elections. And among democratic nations that track turnout at the polls, the U.S. usually ranks near the bottom. That’s no surprise, considering most states don’t emphasize civic education in their schools. Large proportions of the public fail even simple knowledge tests such as knowing whether one’s state requires identification in order to vote.

But of the factors that affect participation rates, the depth of one’s pockets is an important one, with implications on both voter turnout and public policy. “During the 2008 presidential election, only 41% of eligible voters making less than $15,000 a year voted, compared to 78% of those making $150,000 a year or more,” according to the Center for Voting and Democracy. As an unintended consequence, this could skew economic policy in favor of wealthier Americans.

With just a week remaining until Election Day, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on seven key indicators of political engagement. They range from “percentage of registered voters in the 2012 presidential election” to “total political contributions per adult population.” Continue reading below for their findings, additional insight from political experts and a full description of their methodology.

Total Score

Hawaii 47th at 25.97%

Political Engagement Amongst the Elderly

Hawaii 39th at 63.26%

Political Engagement of Young People

Hawaii 43rd at 26.00%

read … 2016’s Most & Least Politically Engaged States

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii