1. Elections and Voting Behavior
Chapter 10

2. Functions of Elections
Institutionalize Political Activity
Versus Demonstrations, Riots, Revolutions
Provide Regular Access to Political Power
Legitimate Transfer of Power
Guides the Policy Direction of the Government
Or Does It?

3. Types of Elections Primary General Elections Policy Elections
Initiative- 24 States
Referendum

4. Evolution of Elections
1800
Jefferson- Democratic Republican vs. John Adams- Federalist
Nominated by the Parties Elected Representatives in Congress
State and Local Organizations, Partisan Newspapers Campaigned, Not Candidates
Jefferson Ends Up Tied with Burr
House of Representatives Chooses Jefferson
First Peaceful Transition

5. Evolution of Elections
1896
Republicans-McKinley, Democrats- Bryan
National Nominating Conventions
Front Porch Campaign vs. Cross of Gold Orator
Republicans
Industrial Northeast, Midwest
Democrats
White Southerners, Westerners
80 % Voter Turnout

6. Evolution of Elections
2000
Bush, Gore and Nader
Campaign Strategy (TV, Technology and Debates)
Gore- His own Man
Bush- Restore Dignity to the White House
Florida Vote
Supreme Court Decision
The Spoiler for Gore

7. Generalizations About Voting Groups
Gender
Race
Age
Income
Education Level
Party
Ideology
Religion
Marital Status
Region
Military

8. Evolution of Voting Rights
Must be 18 or older, registered, can’t be in a mental institution, can’t be a convicted felon
Only property owners and taxpayers allowed to vote
White primary, literacy test, poll tax, and grandfather clause prevent blacks from voting
Grandfather clause declared unconstitutional
Voting Rights Act passed suspending literacy tests and permitted federal examiners
All white males over 25 allowed to vote
Native Americans allowed to vote
1800
1900
1820
1870
1800’s
1920
1944
1968
1972
1870’s
1915
1924
Modern Standards
1787
1840
1965
15th amendment gives suffrage regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
18 year olds begin to vote (Voting Rights Act of 1970)
Women are allowed to vote
White primary falls
Poll tax eliminated
Property restriction removed, except in New Jersey and North Carolina
Xenophobia prevents foreigners from voting in 19th century
1961, residents of the District of Columbia allowed to vote by 23 amendment

9. Voting- Why Bother? Cost of Voting Does My Vote Make A Difference?
Winner Take All, Electoral College
Is There Really a Choice?
Question of Whether the Parties and Candidates are Different
VERSUS
Political Efficacy
Civic Duty

10. Declining Voter Turnout

11. Comparative Low Voter Turnout
Registration Procedure
None, Election Day, 30 Days…
Onus on the Individual, It is not Automatic
Impact of Motor Voter Act of 1993
Vote More Often
Offer Less of a Choice
USATODAY Snapshot Poll

12. Demographic Voting Factors
Education
Age
Race
Gender
Marital Status
Mobility
Union Membership

13. How Americans Decide Mandate Theory of Elections Party Identification
Democrats
African Americans, Jews, Hispanic Americans
Republicans
Conservative Christians, Upper Income
Party Voting Has Declined But Recently Stabilized
Technology, Split Ticket Voting, Floating Voters

14. How Americans Decide Candidate Evaluation Policy Voting
Integrity, Competence, Reliability
Superficial or a Predictor?
Policy Voting
Know Thine Own Policy Self
Know the Candidate’s Stand on Issues
See Differences Between Candidates on Issues
Cast Vote for Like Minded Candidate
Obstacles to Policy Voting

15. Do Elections Affect Public Policy?
Answer: Depends
Ability to Discern Policy Differences of Candidates
But:
The Art of Ambiguity
The Horserace Media and Infotainment
The Broad Based Appeal of Parties

16. Does Public Policy Impact Elections?
Retrospective Voting
“It’s the Economy Stupid”
Electoral Reward or Punishment

17. The Electoral College
The Numbers-
435
100 3
538
270

18. Electoral College Timeline
Today, all States choose their Electors by direct statewide election, the winner of the popular vote winning all the electoral votes, except for …
Maine (in 1969) and Nebraska (in 1991) - which changed to selecting two of its Electors by a statewide popular vote and the remainder by the popular vote in each Congressional district.
On the ballot, you will see ….

19. The Names of the Candidates
But Read The Fine Print

21. Current Workings of the Electoral College
Names of nominated candidates from each party are submitted to each State’s chief election official so they will appear on the official ballot.
Third parties and independent candidates follow different procedures according to the individual State laws
On the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in years divisible by four, the general election occurs - to select electors

22. Current Workings of the Electoral College
The candidate receiving the most popular vote in each State wins all the electors of that State (except for Maine and Nebraska where the winner gets two electoral votes (Senators) and the remainder by the popular vote within each Congressional district (Representative)
On the Monday following the second Wednesday of December (per federal law), each State’s Electors meet in their respective State capitols and cast their electoral votes, one for President and one for Vice-President

23. Current Workings of the Electoral College
The electoral votes are then sealed and transmitted from each State to the President of the Senate who, on the following January 6, opens and reads the vote before both house of the Congress
The candidate for President with the majority of electoral votes (270) is declared the President
Similarly, the Vice-Presidential candidate with the absolute majority of electoral votes is declared the winner

24. Current Workings of the Electoral College
In the event no one obtains an absolute majority of electoral votes for president, the U.S. House of Representatives selects the President from the top three contenders with each State casting only one vote and an absolute majority of the States is required to elect
In the event no one obtains an absolute majority of electoral votes for vice-president, the U.S.Senate makes the selection from among the top two contenders

25. Current Workings of the Electoral College
At noon on January 20, the duly elected president and vice president are sworn into office