This book examines the dynamics behind shifts in voter registration rates across the states and adopts a framework of collaborative governance with election administration at its center. The book starts by introducing readers to the “voter registration gap,” an aggregate measure of variance in voter registration, and demonstrates how it fluctuates between federal elections. To explain why this variance exists, the author examines the relationship between federal reforms, such as the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act; and state-level reforms, such as Online Voter Registration. Thessalia Merivaki argues that the weak relationship between the two is not surprising, since it hides dramatic variations in administrative practices at the local level, which take place in shorter intervals than the most frequently used two-year estimates. In closing, she shows that challenges to successfully registering to vote persist, largely because of how, when, and where eligible citizens have to register.

Black & white print. American Government 3e aligns with the topics and objectives of many government courses. Faculty involved in the project have endeavored to make government workings, issues, debates, and impacts meaningful and memorable to students while maintaining the conceptual coverage and rigor inherent in the subject. With this objective in mind, the content of this textbook has been developed and arranged to provide a logical progression from the fundamental principles of institutional design at the founding, to avenues of political participation, to thorough coverage of the political structures that constitute American government. The book builds upon what students have already learned and emphasizes connections between topics as well as between theory and applications. The goal of each section is to enable students not just to recognize concepts, but to work with them in ways that will be useful in later courses, future careers, and as engaged citizens. In order to help students understand the ways that government, society, and individuals interconnect, the revision includes more examples and details regarding the lived experiences of diverse groups and communities within the United States. The authors and reviewers sought to strike a balance between confronting the negative and harmful elements of American government, history, and current events, while demonstrating progress in overcoming them. In doing so, the approach seeks to provide instructors with ample opportunities to open discussions, extend and update concepts, and drive deeper engagement.

One of the hallmarks of American democracy is the right to vote. In fact, the freedom to vote is so ingrained in American culture that it is taken for granted. Each election shows increasingly decreasing voter turnout and a decline in eligible voters registering. This can be partially attributed to a general antipathy toward the political process and partisan debates. However, there is no legitimate excuse for not availing oneself of the precious freedom to cast a ballot and have a say in the direction of the nation. With the increasing attention given to autocratic regimes across the globe and the restrictions placed on individual freedoms, it is amazing that the right to vote is not more appreciated. This is not to say that the American system is perfect. The 2000 presidential election drew unwanted attention on the inefficiencies and problems inherent in the system, leading to nation-wide cries to rectify the election process. The book analyses the issues around voter registration by looking at voter turnout over the elections of the second half of the 20th century. The articles presented here provide a needed historical background and study of the voting system and specific elections and make for an important collection in understanding the problems and importance of the vote in American democracy.