Elections Vocab/Terms

Motor Voter Law

Also known as the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), enacted in 1993 to simplify voter registration by allowing eligible citizens to register to vote when they apply for or renew their driver's license or other state identification.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group, often resulting in oddly shaped districts that concentrate or dilute voting power.

Electoral College

The system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President, where each state has a certain number of electors casting votes based on the popular vote in their state.

Grandfather Clause

A historical provision allowing individuals to vote if their ancestors were eligible to vote before the Civil War, disproportionately benefiting white voters while excluding African Americans.

Permanent Campaign

The idea that political candidates and elected officials are constantly campaigning, engaging in activities such as fundraising, public appearances, and messaging to maintain support and visibility.

Poll Tax

A fee imposed on voters as a prerequisite for voting, historically used to disenfranchise African American voters during the Jim Crow era.

Split-Ticket Voting

When a voter casts a ballot for candidates from different political parties in the same election, for example, voting for a Republican presidential candidate but a Democratic senatorial candidate.

Suffrage

The right to vote, which has evolved over time to include various groups initially excluded from voting, such as women and minorities.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Landmark legislation aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting, banning literacy tests, providing federal oversight of elections in certain states, and enabling the Department of Justice to challenge discriminatory practices.

Mandate

When an elected official claims that their victory in an election signifies strong public support for their policy agenda, often debated as winning an election does not always guarantee broad public approval for specific policies.

Majority-Minority Districts

Electoral districts where racial or ethnic minorities constitute the majority of the population, often created to ensure fair representation and prevent racial gerrymandering.

Faithless Elector

An elector in the Electoral College who votes contrary to the popular vote in their state, impacting the outcome of a presidential election, although rare.

White Primary

A discriminatory practice prevalent in the South during the early 20th century, allowing only white voters to participate in primary elections, effectively excluding African Americans from the political process.

Microtargeting

A campaign strategy that tailors messages and outreach to specific demographic groups or individual voters, using data analytics to identify likely supporters and customize communication.

Swing State

A state where the outcome of an election is uncertain and could go either way, playing a crucial role in determining the overall election result.

Retrospective Voting

When voters base their choices on an evaluation of an incumbent's performance rather than future promises, considering past actions and outcomes when deciding how to vote.

Closed Primary

A type of primary election where only registered members of a specific political party can participate, requiring voters to declare their party affiliation to receive the party's ballot.