Polarization and Voting (Gov)

Polarization

Growing gap between liberals and conservatives

Rational Choice Voting

Self-interests change voting behavior to maximize utility/preference

Utility

Measure of satisfaction

Irrational Choice Voting

Voting that might not benefit the voter (Odd voting)

Issue Ownership

Voters see their party as more competent/credible than the other

Median Voter Theory

Candidate that is closest to the median usually has a high chance of winning because the median means that most of the voters are voting in that direction

Median Voter in America Today

Low information

Sorting - What do people do?

Self sort themselves into areas where they’re like people there

Who controls elections?

State controlled, not federal

Impediment to voting

ID Voting

Coattails

Presidential elections where people are very excited to vote, those who come later on the ballot benefit from them

Save America Act (3)

1) No online voting register 2) Passport/Birth certif. to vote 3) Bans mail-in voting