elections Flashcards
past methods to limit voter participation
property ownership and literacy requirements
poll taxes
gender/race restrictions
placement of pols and schedulling of polling hours
voter registration rules
current limitations on voting
prisoners are prohibited from voting in 48 states
depends on the state
australian ballot
electoral format that presents the names of all candidates for any given office on the same ballot
convenience voting
voting by mail
electoral districts
geographical area that a specific senator, governor, representative or president represents
electoral college
institution established by the constitution for the election of the president and vicepresident
gerrymandering
manipulate the boundaries of an electoral consituency so as to favor one pary or class
first past the post
voters cast their vote for a candidate of their choice which means that the candidate who reiceives most votes wins
folk theory of democracy
belief system that the voting public supports, elects and embraces candidates who reflect the collective whishes and desires of people
2 accounts of populist democracy
the public decides issues through the election of individuals who will carry their will out
2. people rule through direct democracy
retrospective theory of voting
the electorate in its greate role as appraiser of past events, past performance, past actions; election outcomes is based on public approval/disapproval of the actual performance of incumbent political leaders
3 factors of the electoral system that affect who gets elected
- who decides to run for office and which candidates have an edge over others
- incumbents have advantage
- district lines
casework/constituency service
talking to constituents, providing minor services, introducing special bills and intervening with the bureaucracy for them
patronage
direct services/ benefits that members provide for their districts
example of patronage
pork barrel legislation- representatives seek to capture federal projects and funds for their districts