Elections Notes

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the main rules and procedures of elections in the United States.
  • Explain the key factors that influence whether people vote and how they choose between candidates.
  • Outline common features of campaign strategy.
  • Analyze the 2022 election campaigns and results.

Institutions of Elections

  • Election Rules: A mix of federal and state laws, court decisions, and local administrative practices.

Four Basic Questions of Election Law

  • Electoral Composition: Who votes?
  • Ballot Access and Form: How do we vote?
  • Electoral Districts: Where do we vote?
  • Criteria for Victory: What does it take to win?

The Policy Principle

  • Election Administration and Automatic Voter Registration:
    • The two-step registration process creates barriers to voting.
    • Automated Voter Registration:
    • Utilizes state systems (e.g., motor vehicle registration) to increase voter registration.
    • Opponents Concerns:
    • True choice for voters?
    • Publication of private information?
    • Implementation difficulties?

Who Can Vote?

  • Historical Context: Voting has evolved from property-owning white men to all citizens age 18 and older.
  • Current Voter Participation:
    • Generally lower than in other democracies and historical times, but politically engaged through alternative means (e.g., online activism).

Timeplot: The Growth of the U.S. Electorate (1790-2020)

  • Key amendments expanding the electorate:
    • Fifteenth Amendment: Guaranteed voting rights for all races.
    • Nineteenth Amendment: Gave all women the right to vote.
    • Twenty-Sixth Amendment: Lowered voting age to 18.

Measuring Voter Turnout

  • Turnout Rate Definition:
    • Number of voters divided by the eligible voting population.
  • Challenges in Measuring:
    • Including non-citizens, incarcerated, and ex-felons can understate rates.

The Registration Requirement

  • Voter registration lists are essential for administering elections and determining voting locations.
  • Variation in state registration rules affects participation rates.

Past Methods to Limit Voter Participation

  • Historically included:
    • Property ownership requirements.
    • Literacy tests.
    • Poll taxes.
  • Current Restrictions:
    • Felony-related voting restrictions vary by state.

How Americans Vote: The Ballot

  • Secret and Australian Ballot Creation: The Australian ballot includes all candidates, enhancing voter choice and reducing party control.

Where Americans Vote: Electoral Districts

  • Single-Member Districts: The usual electoral format where one representative is elected per district.
  • Electoral College System: Voters elect electors who then vote for the president and vice president.

Voting by Mail

  • Impact of State Regulations: Voting by mail has become increasingly prevalent, enhancing participation but also subject to state laws.

Drawing Electoral Districts

  • Redistricting every decade based on census data can lead to gerrymandering, manipulating districts to favor one party.
  • Gerrymandering Impact: It dilutes vote power for minorities.

What It Takes to Win: Plurality Rule

  • Plurality Rule Definition: The candidate with the most votes wins, irrespective of whether they achieve a majority.
  • Contrast with Majority Rule: Majority rule requires more than 50% of votes.
  • Proportional Representation: A system typically not used in U.S. single-member districts that awards seats based on party vote percentage.

In Brief: Who Wins?

  • Majority System: Requires a candidate to receive a simple majority (50% + 1).
  • Plurality System: Winner is the candidate with the most votes.
  • Proportional Representation: Seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes received by parties.

Direct Democracy: The Referendum and Recall

  • Referenda: Direct votes on proposed laws or governmental actions.
  • Initiatives: Citizens' petitions to include proposals on ballots.
  • Recall Elections: Removal of officials by popular vote in certain states.

How Voters Decide

  • Decisions to vote are influenced by:
    • Institutional rules and rational voting preferences.
    • Factors include whether to vote and for whom to vote.

Voters and Nonvoters

  • Strong correlations exist between demographics and voting patterns:
    • Older, highly educated individuals are more likely to vote.
    • Interest in issues increases voting likelihood.

Partisan Loyalty

  • Key Predictor of Votes: Party identification leads voters to consistently favor one party, rooted in issues, ideology, and personal history.

Candidate Characteristics

  • Attributes influencing votes:
    • Race, ethnicity, gender, and social background.
    • Personality traits like honesty and competence matter.

Campaigns: Money, Media, and Grassroots

  • Campaign Structure: Predominantly temporary organizations focused on winning elections, raising funds, and strategizing.
  • Challenges faced by campaigns: Mobilizing volunteers, raising funds, and effective public communication.

Campaign Finance

  • Regulations: Various federal laws like FECA and BCRA govern campaign contributions and spending.
  • Role of PACs: Private groups raising and distributing funds for campaigns are vital for political financing.

Congressional Campaigns

  • Incumbency Advantage: Incumbents have a significant edge, demonstrated by greater campaign spending and electoral success.

The 2020 Elections

  • The elections were marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and national protests, which influenced voter behavior and turnout.
  • Turnout Surge: Highest in over a century, with an unprecedented use of absentee and early voting.

2022: Not an Average Midterm Election

  • Split results: Republicans gained a small House majority, Democrats preserved control of the Senate.
  • Governing Divisions: Reflect a nearly balanced political landscape in the U.S. government.