5 - Electoral Processes Flashcards
(21 cards)
Types of elections in the US?
1) Presidential - Use of ECV
2) Congressional - Every 2 years
3) Primaries - Select candidates for parties
4) Direct Democracy (e.g. ballot initiatives, referendums, recall elections)
Strengths of the electoral system?
1) Many election opportunities for participation
2) ECV enforces federalism
3) Ensures clear results and control
Weaknesses of the electoral system?
1) “voter fatigue”
2) Usually one party each house - deadlock
3) Favours two-party system
Significance of Midterms?
- Congressional elections 2 years into a term
- President usually loses Congress control
- e.g. Obama: House 2010, Senate 2014
Roles of National Nominating Conventions?
1) Unite a divided party
2) Chance for party discussion
3) Marks beginning of Prez campaign
4) Gives publicity to candidate (e.g. 2024 Trump Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Details around ECV?
- 538 votes (270 = majority)
- “Winner takes all”
- Maine and Nebraska different (2 ECV for winner, 1 each for district winners)
Arguments against ECV?
1) Winner of popular vote may not win (e.g. Clinton 2016)
2) Smaller states over-represented (e.g. Wyoming 195,000 votes per ECV vs California 712,000)
3) Focus on swing states over safe states
Arguments for ECV?
1) Normally delivers popular vote result
2) Reflects federal nature and need to campaign in multiple states
3) Laws could reform ECV
Factors influencing election outcomes?
1) Incumbency (e.g. 2020: 90% incumbents)
2) Issues (e.g. “It’s the economy, Stupid!”)
3) Media (e.g. $175m on Facebook ads 2020)
4) Money (e.g. $1bn by Harris 2024)
5) Leadership (e.g. Bush post-9/11)
Reasons for high campaign costs?
1) Frequency of elections
2) Restrictions on campaign funding largely ineffective (e.g. 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act)
3) 1st Amendment right
4) SCOTUS: Citizens United v FEC (2010)
Importance of split-ticket voting?
- 2020: Only Maine voted split-ticket
- 1988: 50% of states
- Recent growth of partisanship
Why should campaign finance be regulated?
1) 2024 - $14 billion spent - out of control
2) Restricts politics to the wealthy - elitist (e.g. Trump and Bloomberg)
3) Emphasis on fundraising (elections every 2 years)
Why shouldn’t campaign finance be regulated?
1) Allow supporters to express loyalty (e.g. Bernie raised $46 mil in Feb 2020)
2) Upholds 1st amendment (e.g. Citizens United v FEC 2010)
3) Donations are transparent
Recent voter turnout stats?
- 2020: 61% turnout (UK 2019 = 67%)
- Primary turnout = under 30%
- 2020: Hispanic turnout = 53%
Reasons for low voter turnout?
1) Many elections
2) Lack of voter choice
3) Voter registration requirements
Types of Direct Democracy?
1) Ballot Initiatives
2) Recall Elections
3) Referendums
What are ballot initiatives?
- Laws proposed by voters
- Enough signatures to features on ballots
- e.g. California - require condoms in adult movies
What are recall elections?
- Force state official to face re-election before full term ends
- e.g. 2012 Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker, survived
How do the referendums work?
- Usually when state legislatures passes a law and submits it for public approval
- Such as state constitutional amendments
- e.g. Alabama 80% YES to 10 Commandments in state courthouses
How does direct democracy work well?
1) Allows direct voter input
2) Improves official accountability
3) Opportunities for political participation
How does direct democracy not work well?
1) Can lead to tyranny of the majority (e.g. Driving tests in English)
2) Can lead to law inconsistencies between states (e.g. before Obergefell)
3) “Democratic overload”
