GET OUT AND VOTE: FRAMING THEORY APPLIED TO NONPARTISAN VOTING WEBSITES

The purpose of the research was to analyze the three nonpartisan websites and Facebook pages of Voto Latino, League of Women Voters, and Rock the Vote to reveal how Latinos, women, and young voters are framed. The examination of frames was conducted using a textual analysis of the three websites and 239 Facebook posts. Bateson’s (1972) framing theory was used to analyze how women, Latinos, and young people are framed throughout the website and Facebook page. Next, Braun and Clarke’s (2006), procedure for conducting a thematic analysis was utilized to generate themes. Lastly, I generated themes that evolved from recurring information from the organizations. Each of the organizations had several themes throughout their websites and Facebook content and themes that connected the three organizations together. A total of 12 themes were found by analyzing the three organizations websites and Facebook pages. The themes found in Voto Latino are adversity in voting, Latino vote, and agents of change. The themes ending voter suppression, healthcare reform, and increasing voter participation were found from the League of Women Voters website and Facebook page. Rock the Vote themes were change, understanding voting laws, and empowering young voters. Lastly, the themes discovered amongst all three organizations and their corresponding Facebook pages were suppression, the power of women, and get out and vote. These themes are important because they represent the modern-day issues voters face within the world of politics.