APT 8 Essentials Ed Chapter 8 US Elections

Primary elections

Select party nominees

Electoral votes awarding

Winner-take-all system

Front-loading in presidential primaries

More power for early-voting states

Retail politics

Face-to-face engagement with voters

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

Passed after the 2000 election

Highest voter turnout group

Older, white, educated citizens

Electoral College structure

Favors small states structurally

Citizens United v. FEC

Unlimited independent spending by corporations

Ranked-choice voting

Promotes consensus winners

Ground game in campaigning

Voter outreach like door-knocking

Predicting election outcomes

Likely voters

Swing states attention

They are competitive and can decide elections

Disadvantage of the Electoral College

Candidates can win without the popular vote

Incumbency advantage

Sitting officeholders

Negative partisanship

Voting against the opposing party

Runoff election trigger

No candidate wins a majority

Recount

A recount is mandatory

Bundlers in campaigns

Collect donations from wealthy networks

Daisy Ad from 1964

Negative/mudslinging ad

Texas's 2021 election law criticism

It restricted several voter access practices

Fenno's Paradox

People dislike Congress but like their own representative

Primary election purpose

To select a party's nominee for the general election.

Difference between primary and general election

Primaries determine party nominees; general elections decide who holds office.

Runoff election

A follow-up election when no candidate wins a majority in the first round.

Front-loading

When states schedule primaries early to gain influence in the nomination process.

Electoral College

A body of electors who formally vote for the president and vice president.

Distribution of electoral votes

Each state has votes equal to its number of House members plus two Senators.

Swing state

A state where no party has overwhelming support, making it competitive.

Likely voters

People deemed most probable to vote based on past behavior and interest.

Political efficacy

The belief that one's vote matters and can influence political outcomes.

Voter turnout

The proportion of eligible voters who actually vote.

Highest voter turnout rates

Older, educated, white voters.

Super PAC

An organization that can raise unlimited funds to support candidates independently.

Political action committee (PAC)

An organization that collects contributions to donate directly to candidates.

Bundler

A person who collects donations from multiple sources for a candidate.

Negative advertising

Campaign ads attacking an opponent's character or record.

Campaign's ground game

Efforts to mobilize voters through canvassing, calls, and events.

Initiative

A policy proposal placed on the ballot by citizen petition.

Referendum

A policy proposal submitted to voters by the legislature.

Gerrymandering

Drawing electoral districts to favor one party.

Redistricting

Redrawing district boundaries after a census.

Voter suppression

Policies or actions that make it harder for people to vote.

Early voting

Casting a ballot before Election Day.

Absentee voting

Voting by mail for those unable to vote in person.

Role of debates in elections

They allow candidates to present platforms and challenge opponents.

Difference between registered and eligible voters

Registered voters are signed up to vote; eligible voters meet legal criteria but may not be registered.

Battleground state

Another term for a swing state.

Voter ID law

Legislation requiring voters to present specific identification to vote.

Role of political consultants

They design campaign strategies and manage communication.

Open primary

A primary where any voter can choose which party's primary to vote in.

Closed primary

A primary limited to registered party members.

Ballot initiatives

Often used to bypass legislative gridlock on controversial issues.

Exploratory committee

A group formed by potential candidates to test viability and fundraise before announcing.

Presidential nominating convention

A formal meeting to nominate a candidate and adopt a party platform.

Coattail effect

When a popular candidate helps other party members win elections.