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US Government and Politics & Comparative > Voting behaviour > Flashcards

Voting behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

2020

A

Joe Biden beat incumbent Trump with 51.3% of the vote and a 66.6 turnout.

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2
Q

2016

A

Trump beat Hillary Clinton with 46.1% of the vote compared to her 48.2% with an overall turnout of 57.3.

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3
Q

2012

A

Incumbent Obama beat Mitt Romney with 51.1% of the vote compared to 47.2% with a turnout of 58.6%.

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4
Q

2008

A

John McCain (45.7%) lost to Barack Obama with his 52.9% of the vote. Overall turnout was 61.6%.

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5
Q

2004

A

Republican incumbent George W Bush gained 50.7% of the vote compared to the 48.3% held by John Kerry and overall turnout was 60.1%.

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6
Q

2000

A

Republican George W Bush gained 47.9% of vote, beating Al Gore’s 48.4% with the overall turnout being 54.2%.

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7
Q

1996

A

Democrat Incumbent Bill Clinton gained 49.2% of the vote compared to 40.7% held by Bob Dole and 8.4% by independent Ross Perot who gained 8.4%. Overall turnout was shockingly low at 51.7%.

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8
Q

1992

A

Democrat Bill Clinton, with 43% of the vote, beat Republican incumbent George H. W. Bush and incumbent Ross Perot who held 18.9% of cast vote.

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9
Q

1988

A

Republican George H. W. Bush with 53.4% of the vote beat Michael Dukakis with the overall vote share of 52.8%.

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10
Q

What is socialisation

A

Process through individuals gaining views and values from family and friends and communities

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11
Q

Long term factors

A

Model suggesting that voters vote is influenced by their class and social position

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12
Q

What is partisan alignment

A

When a group consistently backs a party

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13
Q

What is party identification

A

When voters identify with a particular party

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14
Q

How strong is party identification in America

A

very strong and America has a polarised landscape

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15
Q

What is partisan realignment

A

Shift of groups supporting one party to another

can be triggered by a significant crisis or social change

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16
Q

How did the Great Depression trigger a political realignment

A

led to significant realignment with parties having different solutions. The new deal coalition after the Great Depression saw workers, religious groups, ethnic minorities all support the democrat candidate Roosevelt

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17
Q

Why did the new deal coalition break down and why was their another realignment in the 60/70’s

A

Harry Truman- ended segregation, promoted equal rights

this led to the break up of the southern vote

the democrats proceeded to become more liberal

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18
Q

since the 1980’s which groups have alligned with the republican party

A

white, elderly, upper middle class, protestants voters

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19
Q

since the 1980’s which groups have alligned with the democrat party

A

non white, younger, religious minorities, lower income voters

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20
Q

why does the media now often talk about red and blue states

A

divided public in states can consistently support a single candidate such as Texas supporting the republicans

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21
Q

political alignment of white voters

A

Republican

89% support for republican mitt Romney

‘states rights’ southern position

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22
Q

political alignment of African American voters

A

Consistently support democrat candidates

recent democrat candidates have been African Americans such as Kamala Harris and Barak Obama

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23
Q

political alignment of Hispanic Voters

A

this is a widely diverse group

consistant 80% suport for democrat candidates

long tradition by Democrats of being representative of minority ethnic rights

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24
Q

political alignment of Jewish Voters

A

clearest alignement

90% voted for Bill Clinton

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25
Q

political alignment of catholic voters

A

more divided group

Catholic president’s- Kennedy and Biden

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26
Q

political alignment of Protestant voters

A

evangelical voters are more conservative

other religious elements less

much more diverse religious views

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27
Q

What is the difference between younger and older voters

A

Younger voters hold more liberal positions

Youth vote is also more diverse
18-29 58% are white
over 30 76% are white

28
Q

what might the age gap have to do with generational differences

A

in 1992 youth vote spilt and the youth vote split again in 2024

infelcne of politics during transformative years

29
Q

what differences are here between male and female differences

A

women are more likely to vote democrat and in favour of abortion

30
Q

Is martial status more strongly aligned to gender

A

married voters are more likely to be white and religious

more likely to vote republican

31
Q

What differences are there between how different income groups vote

A

obama has greatest support with low incomes

reasonable to assume differing income demographics do hold different views and values

32
Q

what might explain why income groups are not more clearly aligned to a particular political party

A

Poor voters were in favour of tump in 24 and so were the uber wealthy

the economy isn’t the only factor which voters vote on. Many voters belong to a particular minority which may influence them to a greater extent

32
Q

What parts of America is most aligned to a political party

A

the west coast and north east are democrat candidates

much of the ‘Deep South’

and mid west is the battleground

33
Q

How differently to rural and urban voters vote in US elections

A

Obama had greatest support in cities

trump did well in rural areas

34
Q

What is the rational choice model of voting behaviour

A

voters evaluate using rational choice and short term factors including the costs and benefits of voting wither way. This is a self interested choice

35
Q

How many debates are held and how do they work

A

Different forms such as town hall, podium debate

in 24 there was 2 but only 1 between final candidates

there has been more historically. 2008.

36
Q

What lessons were taken from the TV debates between Nixon and Kennedy

A

TV views felt that Kennedy had won but radio listeners felt that Nixon had won.

Nixon looked unwell on night.

37
Q

How much impact did ford’s debtate have on the 1976 election

A

frod made an error suggesting that wrong fact on soviet position making him seem weaker

38
Q

how much impact did Regans performance have in the 1980’s debate

A

Regan was able to show chatacheter which highlighted the importance of sound bites

Regan went on to win

39
Q

Was was unique about the 1992 debates?

A

Ross Perot (indépendant) was given the opportunity to debate

40
Q

Why might TV debates have been signifiant in 2000

A

Close election result and so short term factors like debate can be seen to be impactful on the outcome of the election

41
Q

How much did Romney’s strong performance in the first TV debate help in in 2012?

A

He was prepares and seen to be more energised
Romneys debate performance declined

42
Q

Why do the debates only have a limited impact on the election considering that they are watched by millions of Americans

A

occur late in the campaign,

voters will have been more decided

only u/d voters can be inflecned

could present an opportunity to increase support in supporters to boost turnout

43
Q

1964 attack add

A

‘Daisy’

The one with the girl picking petals from a daisy with a counting down to a nuclear explosion

44
Q

2 types of campaign adds

A
  • positive adds
  • Attack adds
45
Q

How were the campaign adds used in 2012

A

Romney ram adds sihhestomg that Omabma had shipped car manufacturing jobs overseas however car manufacturers came together and contested this

46
Q

What problems did Romney experience in appealing to voters in 2012

A

Romney moved to right in primaries so struggled to campaign as a centrist

Mitt Romney was shown to only pay 14% tax seen as out of tough milestone

bet 10,000 during debate

47
Q

Why did Obama have a head start in buying tv adds in 2012

A

Mitt Romney couldn’t access party funds until nomination acceptance at the party’s national nomination conference.

48
Q

2012 October surprise

A

Hurricane sandy allowed Obama to be presidential and this took focus of the Romney campaign

49
Q

2012 September surprise

A

Romney spoke at a 50,000 USD a plate dinner where he was seen to take republican voters for advantage and was seen as out of touch and arrogant

50
Q

How did the economy inflence the 2012 economy

A

60% of voters said most important factor was the economy

Just before election UP started to go below 8%

Obama had supported jobs in Detroit

51
Q

Obama campaign team

A
  • highly successful GOTV
  • lots of analytics
  • targeted voters
52
Q

What is the VAP and VEP

A

Voting Age Population
Voting Eligible Population (no prisoners and non citizens)

53
Q

Why does separation of powers make voting more challenging

A

Leats to blame game

divided government (Obama second term after the mid terms. Rep congress and Democrat president). Therefore it is difficult to make accountable decision

54
Q

Why do US voters feel their vote has little impact

A

lack of choice

safe seats and divisions

presidential election has lots of electors

55
Q

Why might some Americans have voter fatigue

A

lots of elections.

4 year president
2 year congress
state, local legislate and exec

56
Q

Voting is on Tuesday- how might this affect turnout

A

those working between 7am-8pm cannot access voting time

57
Q

How have registration rules been used in the past to block certain people from voting

A

Literacy tests or residency requirements or tests before voting

in 1960 only 29% ob black voters cast vote

58
Q

What efforts have been made to increase voter registration

A

voting rights act 1965

24th Amendment

59
Q

Why does registration remain difficult in some states

A

Some states have high pre election registration permitters of 25-30 days

Some states allow registration on the day

60
Q

What is differential turnout

A

The term used to describe the differing turnout across levels of abstention and marginal groups

61
Q

How has turnout changes in recent presidential election

A

African American turnout has consistently increased the asian vote has as well.

Education levels- highest level of education vote for the democrast s

62
Q

How does the electorate vary in mid term elections? how does this help the republicans

A

Lower turnout in mid terms as seen as less significant.

This helps the republicans as its democrat demographics which decrease the most

63
Q

What are GOTV campaigns

A

door knocking and events to increase turnout

64
Q

2012 obama campaign tools

A

Narwall which compiled lots of data and emails to create target campaign events

65
Q

How is the US population changing

A

minority groups are increasing in represertnaion

% of white voters is decreasing

% of evangelical voters is decreasing

66
Q

How might electoral changes shift the future of the US electoral landscape

A

Parties will have to further and more completely engage with minority demographics

US Government and Politics & Comparative (8 decks)

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