CEE: Voters and Elections

Voter turnout in the United States influences the outcomes of elections. Politicians spend a great deal of time and energy trying to get their supporters to the polls. But why should this be a problem? Why don’t all eligible voters vote? Economists who have studied this question believe that the answer has to do with the benefits and costs of voting. One sort of opportunity cost is especially helpful in explaining why some people choose not to vote.

Objective

In this webinar teachers will be able to:

• Identify and explain the benefits and costs of voting among certain communities and populations.
• Make predictions about who might be more likely to vote based on their understanding of opportunity costs.