Post on 23-Dec-2015
transcript
CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
General Information
US has more elected officials than any other country
In US this is a highly individual process, you get your name on the ballot, raise money, you appeal to voters in primary elections on the basis of your personality and your take on the issues
Do we get better candidates than we did 100 years ago?
General Information
Majority of election laws determined by state elections scheduled far in advance/fixed terms
vs. parliamentary systems where prime minister can call them at anytime within a 5 year period
precinctan election district of a city or town, regulated by precinct election board
Australian ballotmost widely used form, given out only at polls to qualified voters (pp.366-367 C&W)
General Information
TRENDSmore states are permitting either early voting or voting by mail in efforts to increase voter turnout
By 2000 21 states permitted early voting/mail balloting In 2008 California residents, could mail in your ballot
or vote early at 1 of 11 electronic polling stations Vote by mail process is open between October 4,
2010 and October 26. In the presidential election of 2008, approximately
30% of voters used early voting (29 million); only 14% used early voting in 2000.
Does voting by mail increase voter turnout? Does it increase voter fraud?
Elections serve as…
a method of selecting political leaders for office
a form of political participation a way for linking citizens to their
government a method of legitimizing authority in the
political system
What type of electoral system does the United States have?
Winner-take-all Single member district Plurality system Consequences of this system?
Types of Elections
Primary Elections Caucuses General Elections
Primary Elections
Primary elections select a party’s candidate for the general election
Closed Primary-voter must declare party affiliation ahead of time; most states
Open Primary-voter decides which primary he/she wants to participate in on election day (MT, ND, UT, VT, WI)
Blanket Primary (free love)-all voters receive the same ballot with all candidates listed
More About Primaries California Democratic Party v. Jones (2000)
CA’s blanket primary declared unconstitutional because it was a violation of the 1st Amendment provisions of freedom of association
Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party (2008) Using above as precedent, 9th District Court ruled that
Washington’s primary system was unconstitutional Voters approved Initiative 872 which created a modified
blanket primary Each candidate associated with a preferred party;
allowed blanket primaries to continue Louisiana Blanket (Cajun) Primary-If no
candidate wins a majority, the two top vote getters would be on run-off ballot; only used in State and local races
Even More About Primaries
California has had a modified closed primary system since 2000. “Decline to State” voters can participate in
one primary if the party allows it
Caucuses
Meeting of leaders of a political party to select candidates
Used in 18th and 19th centuries, decline in their use gives more power to the individual candidate, mostly used at state and local levels
Important in presidential politics because good performance in early caucuses (IA in Feb.) gives boost to endorsed candidate
General Election
Tuesday after first Monday in November in even numbered years
winner of general election fills public office V.O. Key three broad types of
presidential elections landslide for the out-party reaffirmation of support realignment
What Decides An Election?
Position Issues-rival candidates have opposing views on a question that also divides the voters
Valence Issues-An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions, goals, or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of
What Decides an Election?
Presidential (in peace time)
Congressional (prospective v. retrospective voting)
Congressional v. Presidential Campaigns
(see pp. 359-368 and pp. 410-421) Congressional elections are regional House elections are less competitive than
Senate or presidential elections (incumbency advantage strongest in the House)
Voters in midterm elections are usually more ideologically consistent
Presidential popularity affects congressional elections (coattail)
More About Presidential v. Congressional Elections
Congressional elections involve more direct communication with constituents.
Congressional candidates can deny responsibility for problems with the government.
Changes to Presidential Campaigns
More extremist candidates Longer campaigns Increased cost of campaigns Early fundraising important for creating momentum Media coverage of campaigns=horserace Frontloading Professional consultants Process is becoming more representative because voter
has more say in delegate selection Running for election=full time job Decrease in party leadership roles Increased importance of primaries/decreased importance
of conventions Development of regional primary blocks
Presidential Campaigns
Deciding to Announce (24-12 months) Gathering support Funding war chest Testing waters
Presidential Campaigns
Primary/Caucus Phase (Jan-June prior; 11-6 months prior) Winning delegates (primary and caucuses indirect
elections) Frontloading – process by which states move primary or
caucus dates forward to try to increase their influence in the nominating process
Election 2008-DNC changed calendar causing frontloading; NH, IA still first; CA and NY Feb. 5th, MI, FL January (violation); later states did play large role because of MI/FL controversy; not settled until June, 2008
Super Delegates-free to vote conscience; don’t have to follow primary election results
Presidential Campaigns
Convention Phase (late Aug., early Sept.) First held in Jackson’s time Formal selection of nominees Delegates from each state attend convention
and vote for nominees
Presidential Campaigns
General Election Phase (late Aug-1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in Nov.) Winner gets the office Where most of campaign funds get spent Use of debates since 1960 Candidates become more moderate
Campaign Strategies And Tactics
Move to more candidate centered campaign More reliance on professional staff, use of
media and polls to direct the campaign
Campaign Strategies and Tactics
Negative Campaigning (Begley and Interlandi, 2008) Declaration of Independence Negative (positions on issues) versus Attack (criticism
of character) Conventional wisdom depress voter turn out Even though people say they don’t have a place in
campaigns, studies show that they don’t depress turnout
Negative ads are effective because people are more motivated to react to negative information than positive
More likely to be about important issues than positive ads
Adds information to campaign because press fact checks the ads and cause target of ad to respond
Convey information about target of ad as well as sponsor
Campaign Strategies and Tactics
Role of issues see “What decides an election” slides
Role of Campaigns
Don’t matter much because more than ½ of voters have decided who they will vote for before the campaign (campaigns solidify existing views)
Matter a lot because 1/3 of voters are undecided and this 1/3 can make a difference in the outcome of a very close election
How issues are framed can influence how people will vote as well as psychological and sociological factors
Role of Elections in a Democracy
Effects on political process Decides who governs and this can have long term
implications (composition of Supreme Court) Because of primary elections, party activists, individual
voters, and single issue groups have more influence in the selection process
Effects on public policy Usually not a drastic change because policy making
involves finding a coalition of diverse interests to support policies
Sometimes it does matter (1860, 1896, 1932, 1964, 1980)
Elections have more effect on public policy in parliamentary systems
Role of Money in Campaigns and Elections
(see campaign finance scavenger hunt)