1. VOTING AND ELECTIONS

2. Voting and Elections n Campaigns and Elections –primaries –general elections n Campaign financing n public opinion polling n Voting Turnout n Initiatives/Referendums

3. Primary Elections n types of primaries –closed primary –open primary –blanket primary n Presidential primaries –delegate selection –primary schedule –bellwether states »e.g. New Hampshire

4. General Elections n Presidential Elections –the electoral college n Congressional Elections –winner take all

5. Primary and General Elections n different electoral strategies n primaries –no partisan guide –run to the party n general elections –run to the centre

6. Campaign Financing n basic rules –FEC –public funding –spending limits –contribution limits –disclosure requirements n $1 billion dollars in TV ads -- 2002 n the problem of “soft money” –contributions to parties (as opposed to candidates)

7. Campaign Financing n Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, 2002 –bans the use of soft money by federal parties »not state and local parties –does not alter the ability of independent groups to run issue campaigns »e.g. numerous loopholes still exist

8. Public Opinion Polls n centrality of polling n misuse of polls –nation-wide polls (Rothenberg) –misreading polls

9. Voter Turnout n levels of voter turnout n explaining voter turnout –low voter turnout –declining voter turnout

10. Explaining Voter Turnout n registration procedures »requires registration »motor voter laws »why is voter registration even an issue? n low voter turnout »voter fatigue »voter satisfaction

11. Voter Turnout n high opportunities for mass participation –range of elective offices

12. Elections in Massachusetts n President n US House of Representatives n US Senate n state governor n state representative n state senate n state attorney general n state auditor n state treasurer n secretary of state n county commissioner n sheriff n clerks of courts n mayor n city councillors n school committee members

13. Voter Turnout n high opportunities for mass participation –range of elective offices –primary elections –referendums and initiatives n actual participation –primaries (5%-20%) –general election (45%-55%) »Canada -- averages near 65%

14. Explaining Voter Turnout n strategic voting –vote in elections that are close races »Florida predicted 60-2%, South Dakota predicted 75% –vote in elections with candidates that voter has strong feelings for/against –vote in elections with issues of relevance to voter »the “Seinfeld” election? –vote in elections where multiple offices/issues in play

15. Explaining Voter Turnout n low voter turnout »voter fatigue »voter satisfaction »voter disaffection

16. Explaining Voter Turnout – Voter Disaffection n declining voter turnout –demographics –fewer differences between party »electoral strategy »less interest in who wins –less effort at voter mobilization by parties

17. Explaining Voter Turnout – Voter Disaffection n do elections matter? –incumbency »elections are referedums on incumbents »incumbent has to do something to lose »challenger finds it hard to get money, hard to break cycle –primaries –winner-take-all –economy

18. Explaining Voter Turnout – Some Observations n voter turnout and September 11 th n voter turnout and split Congress –split Congress leads to high competition –high competition leads to negative campaigning –negative campaigning leads to depressed voter turnout

19. Referendums and Initiatives – What are They? n What are They? –initiative – proposal to put some issue to a referendum »requires 3%-15% of voters to sign –proposition »referendum question put directly on the ballot

20. Referendums and Initiatives – How and When Are They Used? n allowed by 24 states –half of all initiatives take place in five states »Oregon, California, North Dakota, Colorado, Arizona n success rate »50% once they are on the ballot n California »8-12 propositions on EACH ballot »some propositions of VERY considerable importance

21. Election 2002 – Some Final Observations n White House legislative initiatives (January) »judicial nominees »patients bill of rights »energy bill »permanent tax cut –there is no safety net – “no excuses administration” »White House bipartisanship – why?? »who needs who?