1. Elections and Voting Behavior
Chapter 10

2. Three Types of Elections
Party Nominees (primary elections)
Office Holders (general election)
Specific policies
Referendum
State-level direct legislation where
voters approve legislation or
constitutional amendment
Initiative petition
Process in some states where
voters can propose changes to
state constitution with a vote w/
enough signatures

3. Three Major Historical Elections
1800 – First Electoral Transition of Power
Adams vs. Jefferson
No primaries, conventions, or speeches
Newspapers were highly partisan
Campaigns focused on the state legislatures who chose electors (Electoral College)
After a vote in the House, presidency was transferred to Jefferson peacefully

4. Three Major Historical Elections
Fighting over Economic Interests
Democrats’ main issue: unlimited coinage of silver
William Jennings Bryan won Democratic Party nomination w/ speeches about virtues of silver
McKinley won the election and the Republicans regained majority status

5. Three Major Historical Elections
Ratification of a Polarizing Presidency
George W. Bush became the fourth Republican since McKinley to win 2nd term
Intensity of the election was in part due to the controversy of the 2000 election
Hanging chad election
2004 campaign was negative on both sides
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (527)
Leadership of War on Terror and “moral values” - key issues

6. Three Major Historical Elections

7. Gaining the Right to Vote
Suffrage – legal right to vote
15th Amendment granted African American males suffrage
19th Amendment granted women suffrage
26th Amendment granted people 18 and older suffrage

8. Should We Vote? U.S. has low voter turnout Economist Anthony Downs
It is can be rational to not vote
Seeing a clear differences between parties = likely to vote
If indifferent, someone might not vote
Political Efficacy
Belief that one’s political participation really matters
Civic Duty
Belief that in order to support democratic gov’t, a citizen should always vote

9. Should We Vote?

10. How to Vote Registering To Vote Voter Registration Motor Voter Act
System adopted by states that requires voters to register well in advance of the election day
Registration procedures differ by state
Motor Voter Act
Passed in 1993, requires states to permit people to register to vote w/ driver’s license

11. Who Actually Votes? Education Gender Marital Status Age
More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor
Female = more likely to vote
Marital Status
Age
Married = more likely to vote
Older = more likely to vote
Union Membership
Race
Union member = more likely to vote
Caucasian = more likely to vote
Other ethnicities are higher w/ comparable education
Traits are cumulative– possessing several adds up

12. Explaining Voters’ Decisions
Mandate Theory of Elections
Winning candidate has a mandate from ppl to carry out his or
her platforms and politics
Politicians like theory
better than political
scientists

13. Explaining Voters’ Decisions
Party Identification
People generally vote for party agree w/
Rise of candidate-centered politics
Parties’ hold on voters declined in 60s and 70s
No Content Voters
More voters make individual decision and are up for grabs each election
Known as floating voters

14. Explaining Voters’ Decisions
Candidate Evaluations - How Americans See the Candidates
Candidates want a good visual image
Especially on dimensions of integrity, reliability, and competence
Personality plays role in vote choice, especially if a candidate is seen as incompetent or dishonest

15. The Last Battle: Electoral College
Electoral college actually elects president
Founders wanted prez chosen by elite
States choose the electors
Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated states

16. The Last Battle: The Electoral College
How it works today:
Each state has as many votes as it does Reps and Senators
Winner of popular vote usually gets all EC votes
Exceptions Maine and Nebraska
Electors meet in Dec, votes are reported by the vice president in January
If no majority (270 votes), House of Reps votes for president, with each state casting one vote.

17. Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior
Democracy and Elections
Greater policy differences btw candidates give voters more opportunity to steer gov’t policy by their choices
Unlikely—candidates do not always clarify issues
Candidates who promise to continue popular policies more likely to win
Retrospective voting
Voters cast a vote based on what a candidate has done for them lately
Those who feel worse off are likely to vote against incumbents
Bad economies make politicians nervous
Nature of the Times voters

18. Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior
Elections and the Scope of Government
Elections generally support gov’t policies and power
Voters feel they are sending message to gov’t to accomplish something
So gov’t expands to meet needs of voters