Campaigns, Elections, and Voting

What is the difference between election influence and interference?

Influence is overt and secret efforts by foreign govs to directly/indirectly affect an election, interference targets technical aspects of elections

Why are campaigns, elections, and voting important?

Ensures the gov represents the people and is responsive to their needs

What are some efforts to suppress voter turnout?

New identification requirements, no mail-in voting/restrictions

What is the australian ballot?

A secret ballot prepared, distributed, and counted by gov officials

What is the party-column ballot?

A ballot that arranges candidates by political party

What is the coattail effect?

The popularity of a candidate influences the success of other candidates from the same party

What is the office-block ballot?

A ballot that arranges candidates by office

What is absentee voting?

Casting a ballot in advance by mail

What reasons do people usually have to run for office?

Sense of civic responsibilty, party loyalty, furthering personal goals

What is informal eligibility criteria?

Characteristics voters expect officeholders to have

What is a primary election and a general election?

Primary determines party nominees, general is where party nominees run against each other

Does a primary or general come first?

Primary

What are caucuses?

A meeting of party members to select delegates to the national convention

What is an open primary and a closed primary?

Any registered voter can vote in a primary, only party members can vote

What is a runoff election?

A follow up election that is held if no candidate gets 50% of the vote

What is an instant runoff election and how does it work?

Same as a runoff but uses computers to eliminate last place vote getters by having voters rank candidates by choice

What is a referendum?

An election where voters can vote for a measure proposed by state legislature

What is an initiative?

Citizen sponsored proposal that can result in new or amended legislation or constitutional amendments

What is a recall?

Allows voters to cut a state/local officeholders term short

What is a campaign manager?

Strategizes and manages a political campaign

What is campaign strategy?

The blueprint for a campaign including budget and fund raising, advertising strategy, and a staffing plan

What is GOTV?

Get Out The Vote

What is the #1 predictor of voting?

Education level

What age range of Americans vote the most and least?

65+, 18-29

What race votes the most and what races vote the least?

White, Hispanic+Asian

Why is income a reliable predictor of voting?

Lower income voters have more difficulties to face

What are a few ways voter turnout can be increased?

Party competitiveness and close elections

What is rational choice theory?

Idea that individuals will consider how much they care about election outcome and if their vote will matter

What was the decision of the supreme court in the Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission case?

Through new classifications of organizations it allows unlimited contributions and little donor transparency

What was the impact of the supreme courts decision in the Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission case?

More money means bigger campaigns

What are super PAC’s?

Political organizations that are independent from campaigns but spend unlimited sums on campaigns

What is dark money?

Funds given to non-profits through anonymous donation