How does Downs’ rational choice model explain a voter’s decision or calculation to turn out to vote?

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Instructions:

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This short essay question requires that you synthesize the material and make connections between and among concepts presented in this module. Your response should be at least 200 words. Do NOT copy the essay prompt into the body of your essay – this will not count towards your required word count. Caution: this is an assignment where Google will absolutely steer you wrong. There are some very poor Wiki-type pages that inaccurately explain the equation(s). This response should be largely drawn from the lecture material.

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Prompt:

Rational choice scholars such as Anthony Downs have developed rational choice models to help us understand voting behavior. How does Downs’ rational choice model explain a voter’s decision or calculation to turn out to vote? How did Riker and Ordeshook revise Downs’ original “Calculus of Voting”? Explain each element in the equation(s). (min. word count: 200 words)

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ONLY USE THE LECTURE VIDEOS AND BOOK MATERIAL GIVEN: DO NOT USE OUTSIDE SOURCES:

Lecture Video 11.1 Voter Turnout in the U.S.
Lecture Video 11.2 What Else Affects Turnout?
Lecture Video 11.3 The Calculus of Voting
Lecture Video 11.4 What Do Campaigns Do?
Lecture Video 11.5 Microtargeting in Campaigns

BOOK:

GOVT 2305 Textbook ACC 6 January 2021 Revision.pdf – Google Drive

Chapter 7 page: 218

Review Chapter 5.3

Page: 164

How does Downs’ rational choice model explain a voter’s decision or calculation to turn out to vote?
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