Income

                Due to their degree of permanence, it seems logical to begin with long-term factors affecting voting behavior. In most countries, it would make sense to begin with social class. However, this does not translate well to a study of voting behavior in the states. Social class does not hold the same overt meaning and political significance as it does in say the United Kingdom or many other European countries. This is one reason why the emergence of a major socialist party has not occurred in the US. In terms of a sociological understanding of the states, it makes more sense to focus upon income as it offers a more meaningful method of social differentiation than social class.

                The Democrats tend to gain most of their support from lower-income groups, whereas the Republican demographic tends to be wealthier. This seemingly straight-forward distinction can be further understood via the rational choice theory of voting behavior. According to this theoretical model, people will support that party which best looks after their economic interests. Lower-income groups may therefore have a rational interest in supporting the Democrats due to policies such as positive discrimination that favor minorities. In contrast, wealthier voters are more likely to support the GOP due to the appeal of lower taxation.

                As with all theories applied within the study of politics, the rational choice theory of voting behavior is not entirely satisfactory. For example, it fails to explain why those with a post-graduate level of education are more likely to support the Democrats rather than the Republicans. With increased job/income opportunities, they have little rational interest in supporting higher levels of taxation to fund welfare programs. That said; wealthy liberals may place a higher emphasis upon the goal of a fairer society than their own supposed economic interests. Similarly, this model of voting behavior fails to explain why poorer voters chose the Republicans. The GOP has often gained a notable level of support from blue-collar voters (such as white people living in rural areas). As with their ‘latte liberal’ counterparts, white rural voters may place a higher emphasis upon traditional values as opposed to their own economic interests.