Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Chapter 10

Elections and Democracy

Three models of how elections can lead to popular control.

Prospective voting model Electoral competition model Retrospective voting model

Elections

Prospective Voting Model

Definition: A theory of democratic elections in which voters decide what government will do in the near future.

Potential problems: Might increase the intensity of political

conflicts. Likely to lead to gridlock within the

separation of powers.

Elections

Electoral Competition Model

Definition: A form of election in which parties seeking votes move toward them median voter or the center of the political spectrum.

Potential problems: Needs unified parties in order to work Voters must know exactly where the party

stands and the party must keep their promises (Which is unlikely)

Elections

Retrospective Voting Model

Definition: A form of election in which voters look back at the performance of a party in power and cast their vote to the better party.

Electoral reward and punishment states that the voter votes for the incumbent when times are good, against when times are bad.

Potential problems: Gets rid of bad political leaders after

disaster, and not before.

Elections

The Unique Nature of American Elections

Key features: Numerous and frequent elections

Usually separate and independent form anther.

Inconsistent election procedures and Vote-Counting.

Elected positions have fixed terms Elections are held on fixed dates First past the Post wins

Meaning the first one with the most votes wins. Not necessarily with majority.

Elections

Voting in the United States

Expansion of the Franchise: Before the 14th and 15th amendments, it

was up to the states to determine who gets to vote. The states set a limit, called a Franchise, on the right to vote.

Barriers were also set to limit the vote. This left universal suffrage, or the ability to vote. White property owning males usually

voted in the elections.

Voting

Low Voting Turnout

Why is turnout so low?

Barriers to voting Too much complexity Weak voter mobilization Decline in competitive elections

Voting

Barriers to Voting

One of he biggest barriers to voting in the United States is that the public has to register in advance to vote.\ Many procrastinate and do not register in

time. How the United States could increase

voter turnout: Make voting easier by lowering registration

requirements. Make election day a legal holiday.

Voting

Too Much Complexity

When voters go to the polls they must make their choices for the federal, state, and local offices and often decide on constitutional and policy measures put on the ballot by state legislatures or the public. Referenda (state legislatures) Initiatives (the public)

Many voters feel overwhelmed and stay home.

Voting

Weak Voter Mobilization by the Parties

The parties are only worried about getting their own supporters to the polls, and not increasing voter turnout.

Voting

Decline in Competitive Elections

Many states find themselves as Democratic or Republican.

Candidates tend to only worry about states that are affiliated with their party.

Only focused on the big states.

Voting

Who Votes?

Main Factors:

Income and education Race and ethnicity Age

Voting

Income and Education

Higher income voters Tend to have more time making it easier

to get to the polls. More money to get things done and

donate to their candidates. Educated voters

More knowledge about politics Less troubled by registration requirements

Voter with little education and a small income are less likely to vote.

Voting

Race and Ethnicity

Whites are more likely to vote, but in the past years African Americans have increased their voting turnout.

Whites and African Americans now have proportional voter turnout

Voting

Age

Older people tend to vote more. They have more time, more money, and

are in the routine of voting. They know what to expect.

Young voters are less likely to go to the polls. They know little about politics and are

unsure who to vote for.

Voting

Campaigning for Office

Money In general elections: Campaigning for the elections cost a lot

of money. The estimate for the 2007-2008 election

was about $5.3 billion

Campaigns

Hard Money

Money In general elections: Hard money refers to contributions and

spending that fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Election Commission. The FEC wanted to set limits on what the

candidates could spend on advertising, and air time.

This meant that corporations and unions would play a much bigger role financing campaigns.

Campaigns

Where the Money Comes From

The money comes from the following: Individuals and candidates Pac’s (Political Action Committees) 527’s 501’s

Campaigns

Individuals and Candidates

Individuals are the largest single source of funding for presidential campaigns. Voters give contributions to their

candidate but have a limit on what they can give.

Senate and house candidates usually donate money to their own campaigns.

Presidential candidates will usually spend a lot of their own money seeking the party nomination.

Campaigns

Political Action Committees

Pac’s are entities created by interest groups.

These pacs collect money and make contributions to candidates in federal elections.

Campaigns

527’s

527s are entities that can use unregulated money to talk about issues, mobilize voters, and praise or criticizes candidates and office holders.

No limits on donations and spending of 527s, but have to report their contributors to the IRS.

This source of money is not used often anymore.

Campaigns

501’s

501’s do not have to report the identities of the contributors to the IRS like the 527s do.

They still have to report the donations but not as much as the 527s, making it an easier and less stressful process.

Campaigns

How Voters decide

Voters decide on their candidate by their: Social Characteristics Party Loyalties Issues

Voters

Social Characteristics

A citizens socioeconomic status, where they live, religion, gender, and age are all related to how a citizen casts their vote.

African American, Jews, and lower income citizens tend to vote democrat.

White upper income citizens tend to vote republican.

Voters

Party Loyalties

Party loyalty is the concept of two parties, Democrat or Republican.

When a person uses their party identification to vote it means they vote for the candidate closest to their party and issues.

Voters

Issues

Voters usually vote for the incumbent when the economy is strong. If the Economy was worse off after the presidents term the voters may be more likely to vote for the other candidate.

Voters

How Does the Votes Elect a President

A voter usually votes for an elector. They do not vote directly for the president.

These electors will cast the vote for their people.

The president with the majority of the electoral votes win.

Decision

Other Terms to Know

Provisional Ballot – A vote that is cast but not counted until determination is made that the voter is properly registered.

Congressional Primaries – Election in which voters choose delegates to the national party convention.

Congressional Caucuses – Supporters and activists hold meetings for selecting delegates.

Terms