Chapter 10

Candidates characteristics influence on voting...

Voters may draw to candidates who seem friendly, trustworthy, or presidential. May also include his/her skills and experiences.

What steps have been taken to increase voter turnout?

Voting in voluntary in the US unlike other countries who have Election days or it's mandatory to vote or else you get fined.

Age influence on voting...

Voting increases with age until around seventy where it starts to decline due to illness.

Battleground states

Voting is likely to be close, while ignoring states where the outcome is more predictable. Candidates pay most attention to.

Do you think Americans take voting for granted today? Explain.

Yes b/c most think their votes don't matter when truly every single vote matters.

Is public funds an issue?

Yes b/c what if the people in that "public" area don't want to support that candidate but their taxes are going to them.

Blanket primary

Voters can pick & choose one candidate for each office from any party's primary list.

General election

Voters choose among candidates from different parties to fill an elective office.

Primary election

Voters determine their political parties nominee for an elective office.

Retail politics examples

Parades, dinners, local events. Standing outside of factories or malls and shaking peoples hands and kissing their babies.

African Americans gained voting rights...

15th amendment, including former ones.

Women gained voting rights...

19th amendment.

18 year olds gained voting rights...

26th amendment.

Open primary

Allow all voters to vote in primary elections. AKA pick-a-party, independent voters like this way because it is a choice.

Education influence on voting...

Americans with college educations vote in much higher #'s than high school dropouts.

White males gained voting rights...

Before the Civil War, only they who owned substantial property could vote in most elections.

Last 4 steps to start a campaign...

Develop a campaign strategy, Campaign, Run in primaries & caucuses, Attend a national convention.

Wholesale

Direct mail campaigns to thousands of voters asking for their support.

How is money raised in political campaigns?

Donations, the candidates own money, individual citizens, public funds.

Access strategy

Donors give $ to the most likely winner in a race, regardless of party. If the race is close, donate to all. The goal is to donate to the winning party to be able to meet their officials and present their own views to them.

Electoral strategy

Donors use their $ to help elect candidates who support their views. Goal is to increase the likelihood that Congress/state legis./city council will vote as a donor wishes it would vote.

What is one suggestion you would make for changing the role of money in political campaigns?

Every candidate gets the same amount of advertising not based on funding.

First 4 steps to start a campaign...

Form an exploratory committee, Join the race, Set up a campaign organization, Raise funds.

Winner-take all system

Gives offices to the highest vote-getters w/o ensuring representation for voters in the minority. A slim majority of voters can control 100% of elected offices.

American Indians gained voting rights...

Indian citizenship act grants citizenship and voting rights to them.

Closed primary

Limit voting to registered party members. Preferred way. Independent members are not allowed to participate.

Income influence on voting...

Middle-class and wealthy ppl are most likely to vote than those who are in poverty. Low-wage jobs may find it hard to get off work or find transportation.

Midterm election

Occurs in even-numbered years btw presidential elections, 1/3 or senate, all members of House and most state/local officials get elected.

Off-year election

Occurs in odd-numbered years, County supervisors, city mayors, city council and most boards of special districts get elected.

Presidential election

Pres and VP get elected every 4 years as well as 1/3 of the senate and all members of the House and some state/local officials get elected.

Retail politics

Relies on direct, personal contact w/ voters. Try to present themselves as leaders who are in touch with ordinary people.

Voting requirements

Resident of the state, Legally registered voter, US citizen, At least 18 years old.

Issues influence on voting...

Tend to look for candidates who hold the same positions on the issues that are similar to their own.

Plurality

The largest # of votes in an election. Elections w/ 2 or more candidates, the winner by plurality may receive fewer than 50% of the votes cast.

Electoral vote

The number of electors from each state equals the number of that state's representatives in Congress. 538 total. Over 270 to win.

Party affiliation influence on voting...

The party a candidate belongs to. Most critical.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Why do people not vote?

Too busy, illness, work, out of town, don't like any candidates, registration problems, forgot to vote, transportation problems.

Wholesale examples

Use of paid & free media. Ads, Televised ads and debates and meetings.

Public funds

Use public money to campaign for governor & state lawmakers. Comes from taxpayers.

Microtargeting

Uses databases to target narrow groups of voters & reach them with carefully crafted msgs. These msgs present the candidates position on issues of importance to each targeted group.