Elections and Voting Behavior Chapter 13 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman. Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government.

Elections and Voting Elections and Voting BehaviorBehavior

Chapter 13Chapter 13

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as

Longman.

Edwards, Wattenberg, and LineberryGovernment in America: People, Politics, and

PolicyFourteenth Edition

How American Elections How American Elections WorkWork

• Three types of elections:Three types of elections:• Select party nominees (primary elections)Select party nominees (primary elections)• Select officeholders (general elections)Select officeholders (general elections)• Select options on specific policiesSelect options on specific policies

• Referendum: state-level method of direct Referendum: state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve legislation that gives voters a chance to approve proposed legislation or constitutional amendmentproposed legislation or constitutional amendment

• Initiative petition: process permitted in some Initiative petition: process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote, given a in the state constitution to a vote, given a sufficient number of signaturessufficient number of signatures

A Tale of Three ElectionsA Tale of Three Elections

• 1800: The First Electoral Transition of 1800: The First Electoral Transition of PowerPower• No primaries, no conventions, no No primaries, no conventions, no

speechesspeeches• Newspapers were very partisan.Newspapers were very partisan.• Campaigns focused not on voters but on Campaigns focused not on voters but on

state legislatures who chose electors.state legislatures who chose electors.• After many votes in the House, the office After many votes in the House, the office

of the presidency was transferred to of the presidency was transferred to Jefferson peacefully.Jefferson peacefully.


• 1896: A Bitter Fight over Economic 1896: A Bitter Fight over Economic InterestsInterests• Democrats’ main issue: unlimited Democrats’ main issue: unlimited

coinage of silvercoinage of silver• William Jennings Bryan won the William Jennings Bryan won the

Democratic Party nomination with Democratic Party nomination with speeches about the virtues of silver.speeches about the virtues of silver.

• McKinley won the election and the McKinley won the election and the Republicans regained majority status.Republicans regained majority status.

A Tale of Three ElectionsA Tale of Three Elections• 2004: The Ratification of a Polarizing 2004: The Ratification of a Polarizing

PresidencyPresidency• George W. Bush became the fourth George W. Bush became the fourth

Republican since McKinley to win a second Republican since McKinley to win a second term.term.

• The intensity of the election was in part due The intensity of the election was in part due to the controversy of the 2000 election.to the controversy of the 2000 election.

• The 2004 campaign was characterized by The 2004 campaign was characterized by negative campaigning.negative campaigning.

• Leadership of the War on Terrorism and Leadership of the War on Terrorism and “moral values” proved to be key issues.“moral values” proved to be key issues.


Whether to Vote: A Whether to Vote: A Citizen’sCitizen’s

First ChoiceFirst Choice

• Suffrage: the legal right to voteSuffrage: the legal right to vote• Extended to African Americans by the Extended to African Americans by the

Fifteenth AmendmentFifteenth Amendment• Extended to Women by the Extended to Women by the

Nineteenth AmendmentNineteenth Amendment• Extended to people over 18 years of Extended to people over 18 years of

age by the Twenty-Sixth Amendmentage by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Whether to Vote: A Whether to Vote: A Citizen’sCitizen’s


• U.S. has low voter turnoutU.S. has low voter turnout• Downs: it is rational to not voteDowns: it is rational to not vote

• Those who see clear differences between parties Those who see clear differences between parties are likely to vote.are likely to vote.

• If indifferent, then one may rationally abstain from If indifferent, then one may rationally abstain from voting.voting.

• Political Efficacy: the belief that one’s Political Efficacy: the belief that one’s political participation really matterspolitical participation really matters

• Civic Duty: the belief that in order to support Civic Duty: the belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should democratic government, a citizen should always votealways vote

Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s

First ChoiceFirst ChoiceFrom Government in America, 13th edition.

Whether to Vote: A Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s Citizen’s


• Registering To VoteRegistering To Vote• Voter Registration: a system adopted by Voter Registration: a system adopted by

the states that requires voters to register the states that requires voters to register well in advance of the election daywell in advance of the election day

• Registration procedures differ by state.Registration procedures differ by state.• Motor Voter Act: passed in 1993, requires Motor Voter Act: passed in 1993, requires

states to permit people to register to states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for their driver’s vote when they apply for their driver’s licenselicense



• Who Votes?Who Votes?• Education: More education = more Education: More education = more

likely to vote. Most important factorlikely to vote. Most important factor• Age: Older = more likely to voteAge: Older = more likely to vote• Race: Caucasian = more likely to Race: Caucasian = more likely to

vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable educationwith comparable education

• Gender: Female = more likely to voteGender: Female = more likely to vote

Whether to Vote: A Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First ChoiceCitizen’s First Choice

• Who Votes? Who Votes? • Marital Status: Married = more likely Marital Status: Married = more likely

to voteto vote• Union Membership: Union member = Union Membership: Union member =

more likely to votemore likely to vote• Traits are cumulative–possessing Traits are cumulative–possessing

several adds upseveral adds up



How Americans Vote: How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Explaining Citizens’

DecisionsDecisions

• Mandate Theory of ElectionsMandate Theory of Elections• The idea that the winning candidate The idea that the winning candidate

has a mandate from the people to has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and carry out his or her platforms and politicspolitics

• Politicians like the theory better than Politicians like the theory better than political scientists do.political scientists do.


DecisionsDecisions

• Party IdentificationParty Identification• People still generally vote for a party People still generally vote for a party

they agree with.they agree with.• With the rise of candidate-centered With the rise of candidate-centered

politics, parties’ hold on voters politics, parties’ hold on voters declined in the 1960s and 1970s.declined in the 1960s and 1970s.

• Many more voters make an individual Many more voters make an individual voting decision and are up for grabs voting decision and are up for grabs each election, (so-called floating each election, (so-called floating voters).voters).


DecisionsDecisions


DecisionsDecisions

• Candidate Evaluations: How Candidate Evaluations: How Americans See the CandidatesAmericans See the Candidates• Candidates want a good visual image.Candidates want a good visual image.

• Especially on dimensions of integrity, Especially on dimensions of integrity, reliability, and competencereliability, and competence

• Personality plays a role in vote Personality plays a role in vote choice, especially if a candidate is choice, especially if a candidate is perceived to be incompetent or perceived to be incompetent or dishonest.dishonest.


DecisionsDecisions

• Policy VotingPolicy Voting• Basing your vote choice on issue preferences Basing your vote choice on issue preferences

and where the candidates stand on policy issuesand where the candidates stand on policy issues• Policy voting may occur if : Policy voting may occur if :

• Voters know where they and the candidates stand on Voters know where they and the candidates stand on issues and see differences between candidatesissues and see differences between candidates

• Unlikely to occur because:Unlikely to occur because:• Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.• Media tend to focus on the “horse race” not issues.Media tend to focus on the “horse race” not issues.

• Today candidates are forced to take a clear Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries increasing chances stand in the party primaries increasing chances for policy voting.for policy voting.

The Last Battle: The The Last Battle: The Electoral CollegeElectoral College

• Electoral college actually elects the Electoral college actually elects the president—founders wanted him president—founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the countrychosen by the elite of the country

• States choose the electorsStates choose the electors• Winner-Take-All system gives Winner-Take-All system gives

bigger emphasis to more bigger emphasis to more populated statespopulated states


• How it works today:How it works today:• Each state has as many votes as it does Each state has as many votes as it does

Representatives and Senators.Representatives and Senators.• Winner of popular vote typically gets all the Winner of popular vote typically gets all the

Electoral College votes for that stateElectoral College votes for that state• Electors meet in December, votes are Electors meet in December, votes are

reported by the vice president in Januaryreported by the vice president in January• If no candidate gets a majority (270 votes), If no candidate gets a majority (270 votes),

the House of Representatives votes for the House of Representatives votes for president, with each state casting one vote.president, with each state casting one vote.


Understanding Elections Understanding Elections and Voting Behaviorand Voting Behavior

• Democracy and ElectionsDemocracy and Elections• The greater the policy differences between The greater the policy differences between

candidates, the more likely voters will be able candidates, the more likely voters will be able to steer government policy by their choices.to steer government policy by their choices.• Unlikely—candidates do not always clarify issuesUnlikely—candidates do not always clarify issues

• Candidates who vow to continue popular Candidates who vow to continue popular policies are more likely to win elections.policies are more likely to win elections.

• Retrospective voting: voters cast a vote based Retrospective voting: voters cast a vote based on what a candidate has done for them latelyon what a candidate has done for them lately• Those who feel worse off are likely to vote against Those who feel worse off are likely to vote against

incumbents.incumbents.• Bad economies make politicians nervous.Bad economies make politicians nervous.

Understanding Elections Understanding Elections and Voting Behaviorand Voting Behavior

• Elections and the Scope of Elections and the Scope of GovernmentGovernment• Elections generally support Elections generally support

government policies and power.government policies and power.• Voters feel they are sending a Voters feel they are sending a

message to government to accomplish message to government to accomplish somethingsomething

• Thus, the government expands to fill Thus, the government expands to fill the needs of the voters.the needs of the voters.

SummarySummary

• Voters make two basic decisions at Voters make two basic decisions at election time:election time:• Whether to voteWhether to vote• Who to vote forWho to vote for

• Party identification, candidate Party identification, candidate evaluations, and policy positions drive evaluations, and policy positions drive vote choice.vote choice.

• Elections are fundamental to a Elections are fundamental to a democracy.democracy.

Elections and Voting Behavior Chapter 13 Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman. Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government.

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