| The USA presidential election is conducted every | | | | states supported the Democratic candidate, John |
| 4 years in November. It uses a system of | | | | Kerry. But this is just a mere generalization if one |
| "first-past-the-post" or "winner-takes-all" which | | | | says that in the 2004 presidential election, party |
| means the candidate who gets the majority of | | | | identification model was the most important |
| popular votes does not necessarily win; what is | | | | factor. Nevertheless, its importance is not |
| more important is getting the majority of | | | | questionable. |
| electoral votes. In such a system an individual | | | | The most important factor in voting theories of |
| might feel that his vote can not make a | | | | the 2004 was about issue voting. In other words, |
| difference in the outcome of the election and | | | | voters paid a lot of attention to the issues that |
| therefore may choose not to vote at all. That is | | | | were supported by candidates. Above all people's |
| why some scholars believe about 50 per cent of | | | | concern was the issue of national security including |
| people who are eligible to vote prefer to stay at | | | | terrorism and moral values which was advocated |
| home and not to show up in the Election Day. | | | | by Bush. On the other hand, Kerry's slogan was |
| In this paper, the theories of voting and | | | | "stronger at home, respected in the world." And |
| non-voting behavior in 2004 presidential election | | | | he also paid more attention to economic issues |
| are discussed. In other words, we are going to | | | | like jobs and health care. One should bear in mind |
| see whether party identification model or issue | | | | that the 2004 election was the first presidential |
| voting played an important role in individuals' | | | | election after Sep. 11, 2001 and very logically if |
| opinions who voted and if they did not vote, what | | | | one felt threatened, the best candidate to vote |
| was the reason behind that? | | | | for would be a Republican. And very basically that |
| The United States presidential election of 2004 | | | | was the reason why individuals voted for George |
| was between the Republican candidate, George | | | | W Bush. |
| Walker Bush, the President of the United States | | | | The percentage of voting-age citizens taking part |
| and the defeated Democratic candidate, John | | | | in the 2004 presidential election was higher than |
| Kerry, the junior United States Senator from | | | | the previous one in 2000. 64 percent of voter |
| Massachusetts. | | | | turnout (126 million) in the 2004 election was a |
| Bush received about 51 percent of the votes cast | | | | record number for a presidential election. Among |
| (62 million votes), while Kerry received about 48 | | | | 72.1 percent of the people registered, 63.8 voted, |
| percent (59 million votes). Bush could get 286 | | | | that is to say 16 million registered voters did not |
| electoral votes and Kerry 251. The counting of | | | | cast a ballot. Well, there were different reasons |
| the votes in the state of Ohio was controversial | | | | why these registered nonvoters did not show up: |
| and many believed that if voting in Ohio had | | | | 20 percent said that they were too busy on the |
| proceeded fairly, Kerry would have become the | | | | Election Day, 15 percent said that they were ill or |
| US president. | | | | had a family emergency, and 11 percent said that |
| There was only a slight difference between the | | | | they felt their votes would not make a difference |
| states which voted for Democrats and the ones | | | | in the outcome. Other reasons included being out |
| which voted for Republicans in comparison to the | | | | of town, not liking the candidates, confusing about |
| 2000 presidential election. The difference is to do | | | | voting or registration, etc. |
| with only three states. Bush took Iowa and New | | | | All in all, the element which was of great |
| Mexico (combined 12 electoral votes), both won | | | | importance in the 2004 presidential election was |
| by Al Gore in 2000, while Kerry took New | | | | about issue voting and the issue which most |
| Hampshire (4 electoral votes), which Bush had | | | | people were concerned about was national |
| previously won. Bush got a net gain of 8 electoral | | | | security. People chose their future president |
| votes from these switches. | | | | retrospectively, as the Republican Party is known |
| This result is to do with party identification model. | | | | for being a better leader when it comes to |
| That is to say the Southern states generally | | | | foreign policy and therefore national security. |
| voted for George W Bush, while the Northern | | | | |