Elections and Voting

1. 12 Elections and Voting

2. 12 Learning Objectives • Trace the roots of American elections, and distinguish among the four different types of elections 12.1 • Outline the electoral procedures for presidential and general elections 12.2

3. 12 Learning Objectives • Compare and contrast congressional and presidential elections, and explain the incumbency advantage 12.3 • Identify seven factors that influence voter choice 12.4

4. 12 Learning Objectives • Identify six factors that affect voter turnout 12.5 • Explain why voter turnout is low, and evaluate methods for improving voter turnout 12.6

5. Roots of American Elections 12.1 • Purposes of Elections • Types of Elections

6. Purposes of Elections 12.1 • Popular election • Provides unique legitimacy to government • Proof of popular sovereignty, or consent of the governed • Electorate, or citizens eligible to vote, judge those in power • Fill public offices • Elections provide voters a choice in policy • Winners claim a mandate, or command from the voters to enact their policy platform

7. Types of Elections 12.1 • Primary Elections • Closed primaries • Open primaries – crossover voting • Runoff primary • General Election

8. Types of Elections 12.1 • Initiative and Referendum • Initiative placed on ballot by citizens • Referendum placed on ballot by legislature • Recall

9. 12.1 How are ballot measures used?

10. 12.1 12.1When state lawmakers place a proposal on the ballot for voter approval, it is called a: • Open primary • Initiative • Referendum • Recall

11. 12.1 12.1When state lawmakers place a proposal on the ballot for voter approval, it is called a: • Open primary • Initiative • Referendum • Recall

12. Presidential Elections 12.2 • Primaries and Caucuses • Electing a President: The Electoral College

13. Primaries and Caucuses 12.2 • Methods to select delegates • Winner-take-all primary • Proportional representation primary • Caucus • Selecting a system • Frontloading

14. 12.2 FIGURE 12.1: When do states choose their nominee for president?

15. Electing a President: The Electoral College 12.2 • Historical challenges • Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, 1800 • John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, 1824 • George W. Bush and Al Gore, 2000

16. Electing a President: The Electoral College 12.2 • Should the Electoral College be reformed? • Abolish in favor of popular vote • Congressional district plan

17. 12.2 FIGURE 12.2: How is voting power apportioned in the electoral college?

18. 12.2 12.2The numbers of electors from each state to the Electoral College is: • Equivalent to the number of representatives • Equivalent to the number of representatives and senators • Equivalent to the number of congressional districts a candidate wins, plus two bonus electors for the overall popular vote winner • None of the above

19. 12.2 12.2The numbers of electors from each state to the Electoral College is: • Equivalent to the number of representatives • Equivalent to the number of representatives and senators • Equivalent to the number of congressional districts a candidate wins, plus two bonus electors for the overall popular vote winner • None of the above

20. 12.3 Congressional Elections • The Incumbency Advantage • Why Incumbents Lose

21. The Incumbency Advantage 12.3 • Staff Support • Visibility • Scare-off effect

22. 12.3 What are some of the advantages of incumbency?

23. Why Incumbents Lose 12.3 • Redistricting • Scandals • Presidential Coattails • Mid-Term Elections

24. 12.3 TABLE 12.1: How does the president affect congressional elections?

25. 12.3 12.3Which of the following is not typically a reason for an incumbent to lose an election? • Redistricting • Presidential Coattails • “Scare-Off” Effect • Mid-Term Elections

26. 12.3 12.3Which of the following is not typically a reason for an incumbent to lose an election? • Redistricting • Presidential Coattails • “Scare-Off” Effect • Mid-Term Elections

27. Patterns in Vote Choice 12.4 • Party Identification • Ideology • Income and Education • Race and Ethnicity • Gender • Religion • Issues

28. Party Identification and Ideology 12.4 • Party Identity • Most powerful predictor of vote choice • Doesn’t fully eliminate ticket splitting • Ideology • Liberals favor government involvement in social programs • Conservatives favor ideals of individualism and market-based competition

29. 12.4 FIGURE 12.3: How do demographic characteristics affect voters’ choices?

30. Income and Education 12.4 • Lower income voters • Tend to vote Democratic • Higher income voters • Tend to vote Republican • Education • Most educated and least educated tend to vote Democratic • Voters in the middle, such as those with a bachelor’s degree, tend to vote Republican

31. Race, Ethnicity and Gender 12.4 • Race • Whites more likely to vote Republican • African Americans and Hispanics more likely to vote Democratic • Gender • Women more likely to vote Democratic • Men more likely to vote Republican

32. 12.4 How does gender influence electoral outcomes?

33. Religion and other Issues 12.4 • Religion • Jewish voters strong Democratic Party supporters • Protestants more likely to vote Republican • Catholics divided – social justice versus abortion • Other Issues • Economy often key issue • Retrospective judgment versus prospective judgment

34. 12.4 12.4When voters reward or punish a political party at the polls based on paast achievements or failures, they are using what? • Ticket-splitting • Retrospective judgment • Prospective judgment • None of the above

35. 12.4 12.4When voters reward or punish a political party at the polls based on past achievements or failures, they are using what? • Ticket-splitting • Retrospective judgment • Prospective judgment • None of the above

36. Voter Turnout 12.5 • Income and Education • Race and Ethnicity • Gender • Age • Civic Engagement • Interest in Politics

37. 12.5 TABLE 12.2: How do states regulate voter eligibility?

38. Income and Education,Race and Ethnicity 12.5 • Income and Education • Race and Ethnicity

39. 12.5 FIGURE 12.4: How has the racial and ethnic composition of voters changed?

40. Gender, Age, Civic Engagement and Interest in Politics 12.5 • Gender • Age • Civic Engagement • Interest in Politics

41. 12.5 12.5All of these are a factor in voter turnout except: • Age and race • Income end education • Geographic location • All of the above

42. 12.5 12.5All of these are a factor in voter turnout except: • Age and race • Income end education • Geographic location • All of the above

43. Toward Reform: Problems with Voter Turnout 12.6 • Why Don’t Americans Turn Out? • Ways to Improve Voter Turnout

44. 12.6 FIGURE 12.5: Why don’t people vote?

45. 12.6 How do citizens vote by absentee ballot?

46. Ways to Improve Voter Turnout 12.6 • Make Election Day a Holiday • Enable Early Voting • Permit Mail and Online Voting • Make Registration Easier • Modernize the Ballot • Strengthen Parties

47. 12.6 12.6The most frequently cited reason Americans give for failing to vote is: • Distrust in government and voter cynicism • Overwhelming number of elections • Difficulty with voter registration • Conflicts with work or family

48. 12.6 12.6The most frequently cited reason Americans give for failing to vote is: • Distrust in government and voter cynicism • Overwhelming number of elections • Difficulty with voter registration • Conflicts with work or family

49. Discussion Question 12 Why don’t more Americans vote? What changes to election procedures might increase voter turnout? What factors influence how Americans make their voting choices?