Economic status
plays a key role in the 2012 election. With over 15 percent of the American
population living below the poverty line, a voter’s economic security becomes a
powerful influence when casting his ballot (Enloe and Seager 54)(Barry et. al 173). By observing the voting trends in individual
states, I will link economic status’ relation to partisanship in America, and
discuss how it traps low-income households located in high poverty states.
There are
currently eighteen States in America whose poverty rates exceed the national
average (Enloe and Seager 54). The majority of these states only exceed the
national average by four percent; however, certain states among them are more
than five percent above the national average.
These states are predominately located on the southern border, with
Montana and Michigan as notable low-income exceptions in the North.
By examining how
these states suffering from elevated poverty vote, it becomes plain that these states as a whole have republican tendencies.
Fifteen of these eighteen high-poverty states had a majority of voters
supporting republican candidate Mitt Romney in the 2012 election (National Post). However, it is important to distinguish this trend from a belief that the majority of low-income voters in these states espouse Romney. While the majority of the states’ population may lean Republican, the citizens living below the poverty line may be prone to vote otherwise.
Ohio, Michigan, and New Mexico are the only three states to have strayed from the trend of high-poverty states voting Republican (Enloe and Seager)(Election 2012: Results). President Obama was supported by a minimum of fifty-nine percent of citizens from households earning below fifty thousand in all three states (Election 2012: Results).
Ohio, Michigan, and New Mexico are the only three states to have strayed from the trend of high-poverty states voting Republican (Enloe and Seager)(Election 2012: Results). President Obama was supported by a minimum of fifty-nine percent of citizens from households earning below fifty thousand in all three states (Election 2012: Results).
(Bart)
The republican alignment in high-poverty states might be caused by low-income voters. Low-income Americans may not have the “necessary resources (time and money)” to take part in the election (Barry et. al 173). Such voters, living in trying financial conditions,
cannot afford to take time off work to wait in line on election day. Though methods such as advanced voting exist,
it may be perceived as too time consuming or complex by uneducated voters. In
severe cases of poverty, low-income Americans are more likely to focus on short-term personal
survival rather than long-term election results. In the absence of their vote, wealthier
Americans, who voted in greater number for Romney in 2012, are given more power
by means of less competition(Election 2012: Results).
While
this may offers insight into voting trends of high-poverty states, how do
low-income Americans themselves vote when they are able? Fifty-eight percent of households with an
income under twenty-four thousand dollars supported Obama before the election,
and sixty percent of the same group voted for him on the 6th of
November (Newport)(Election 2012:Results). Observing this statistic it would be expected that states with high poverty rates would have been more likely to have voted democratic than republican in this past election, assuming low-income citizens were able to vote (One-Third of Lowest-Income Voters Support Romney).
I will analyze the election results in Mississippi, as it is near the geographical center of the aforementioned eighteen states and also has the highest poverty rate in the country, with twenty-one percent of its citizens living below the poverty line (Enloe and Seager). Like the many other high-poverty states, Mississippi went republican during the 2012 election. Of the households earning less than 50 thousand a year in Mississippi, fifty-four percent voted in favor of Obama during the election (Election 2012:Results). The majority of Mississippians living in difficult financial situations voted Democratic, perhaps in an attempt to avoid Romney’s trickle down economics in favor of Obama more socialist approach.
The votes of low-income households were overshadowed by those of wealthier citizens in Mississippi, who voted en masse for the Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Although only forty-eight percent of Mississippi households earn more than 50 thousand a year, those that do supported Romney with seventy-one percent of their vote, dwarfing the majority of low-income households. Because of strong republican tendencies in financially stable households living in high-poverty states, the democratic supporting low-income households are being eclipsed. This prevents them from providing Electoral College votes from their state to a presidential candidate more in tune with their interests.
This scenario perpetuates the alienation of the lower-income households from the American electoral system. Due to the trend of higher income households voting Republican in states where poverty is above the national average, it can be difficult for the low-income citizens to be heard. This, coupled with lower voter turnout among low-income Americans, could be a crippling combination preventing upward social mobility for poor and suffering Americans.
I will analyze the election results in Mississippi, as it is near the geographical center of the aforementioned eighteen states and also has the highest poverty rate in the country, with twenty-one percent of its citizens living below the poverty line (Enloe and Seager). Like the many other high-poverty states, Mississippi went republican during the 2012 election. Of the households earning less than 50 thousand a year in Mississippi, fifty-four percent voted in favor of Obama during the election (Election 2012:Results). The majority of Mississippians living in difficult financial situations voted Democratic, perhaps in an attempt to avoid Romney’s trickle down economics in favor of Obama more socialist approach.
The votes of low-income households were overshadowed by those of wealthier citizens in Mississippi, who voted en masse for the Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Although only forty-eight percent of Mississippi households earn more than 50 thousand a year, those that do supported Romney with seventy-one percent of their vote, dwarfing the majority of low-income households. Because of strong republican tendencies in financially stable households living in high-poverty states, the democratic supporting low-income households are being eclipsed. This prevents them from providing Electoral College votes from their state to a presidential candidate more in tune with their interests.
This scenario perpetuates the alienation of the lower-income households from the American electoral system. Due to the trend of higher income households voting Republican in states where poverty is above the national average, it can be difficult for the low-income citizens to be heard. This, coupled with lower voter turnout among low-income Americans, could be a crippling combination preventing upward social mobility for poor and suffering Americans.
Barry, Jeffrey M,
Jerry Goldman, Kevin W. Hula, and Kenneth Janda. The Challenge
of Democracy American Government in Global Politics. United States: Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
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Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
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"Election 2012: Results." CNN. Cable News Network, 06 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Nov.
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Enloe, Cynthia H., and Joni Seager. The Real State of America Atlas: Mapping the Myths
and Truths of the United States. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print.
Newport, Frank. "One-Third of Lowest-Income Voters Support Romney." One-Third of Lowest-Income Voters Support Romney. Gallup, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gallup.com/video/157568/one-third-lowest-income-voters-support-romney.aspx>.
Newport, Frank. "Romney Has Support Among Lowest Income Voters." Romney Has
Support Among Lowest Income Voters. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.gallup.com/poll/157508/romney-support-among-lowest-income-
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National Post "U.S. Election Results 2012: Who’s winning?" . N.p., 06 Nov. 2012. Web. 06
Nov. 2012. <http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/11/06/us-election-results-2012-
whos-winning/>.
