Chapter 8: Elections

Elections

Mechanisms for citizens to choose leaders and shape policy

Election Cycle

The two-year or four-year period between elections, including primaries and general elections

General Election

Election where voters choose officeholders

Primary Election

Election determining a party’s nominee

Runoff Election

Second election when no one wins a majority

Open Seat

Election without an incumbent

Incumbent

Current officeholder running for reelection

Plurality Voting

Most votes wins

Majority Voting

Over 50% needed to win

Proportional Allocation

Delegates are awarded based on percentage of votes received

Winner-Take-All

Candidate with the most votes gets all delegates/electors

Single Member Districts

One representative per district; encourages two-party competition

Paradox of Voting

Voting has more costs than benefits— but people vote anyway

Factors that Affect Voting

Education, age, income, race, political interest, mobilization

Why Low Turnout

Registration hurdles, weekday voting, low political efficacy

Direct Mobilization

Campaign directly contacts voters

Get Out to Vote (GOTV)

Efforts to increase turnout

Soft Money

Unregulated party-building funds

Hard Money

Regulated contributions to candidates

501( c ) Groups

Nonprofits that can engage in political advocacy without disclosing donors

527 Organizations

Tax-exempt political groups that cannot coordinate with candidates

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Regulates campaign finance

Electoral College

System for electing the president; 270 votes needed to win

Electoral Votes

State votes equal to House seats + Senate seats

Maine & Nebraska Exception

Use district-based allocation instead of winner-take-all

Swing States

Competitive states that determine election outcomes

Popular Vote

Total votes cast nationwide

Prospective Voting

Voting based on future expectations

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on past performance

Single-Issue Voters

Voters motivated by one issue

Split Ticket Voting

Voting for different parties in the same election

Straight Ticket Voting

Voting only for one party