Electoral process

• 538 electors - voting membership of congress - need to surpass 270
• 23 amendment include district of Columbia
• Electors cast vote on behalf of citizen - worried normal people uneducated
• outdated and undemocratic
• Winner takes all in everwerebbut Nebraska and Maine
• Advatnage to states with large amount of votes - can lose popular vote
• Al Gre - 2000-540k more than Bush

  Clinton - 3 million more than trump - over 70 ecvs
• Electors hold public office
• Article 2, Section 1
• 1/4 elections had fateless electors - aren’t outcome hanging - 2 trump and 5 Clinton - polarisation increases frequency
• 3 justify electoral college

  • Majoritarian electoral system - clear winner - Single party control of exop
  • Federal nature of US - have power over how it works - camt ignore small states as they matter
  • Promote two horse race = unity withinstates - republicans and democrats
• Disadvantages of elecotoral college

  • Win popular but lose ECV - Clinton 3 million more - Al Gore - 450k more votes due to large state eg CA 35 and Texas 38 - only need to win 13 big states
  • Small states are over represented - against democratic values - California has 1 per 700k Whilst Wyoming as 1 per 190k
  • Third parties have no chance - Values concentrated support over widespread - ECV - 18% Ross Perot in 92 but not one ECV - used to divide vote - Nader ran to take votes frmore Al Gore -3 mil vtes
• Primary participation

  • Low - suggests voter apathy
  • Not a reflection of a healthy democracy
• Positives :

  • Increasingly democratic - frequent elections
  • Midterms allow for checks on president
  • Federalism is prevalent as states decide voter requirements
• What is split ticket voting?

  Voting for candidates from different parties in different elections held at the same time
• What does split ticket voting in 2020 exemplify?

  Voting for Biden as president and a Republican in Senate or House elections

  
• When did split ticket voting see a massive decline?

  Since the 1980s

  
• What significant event occurred in 2016 regarding Senate races?

  Every Senate race corresponded with how the state voted in the presidential election
• What was an exception to the trend observed in 2020 regarding Senate races?

  Susan Collins held her Senate seat while Maine voted for Biden
• What is one reason for split ticket voting?

  It reflects preferences for personalities over parties
• How have US parties traditionally been characterized?

  They have been quite 'broadchurch'
• What does the sheer number of elected offices provide?

  Many opportunities to split one’s ballot
• What was the turnout rate for the presidential race in 2016?

  55.7% of the voting age population
• What percentage of registered voters turned out in 2016?

  87% of registered voters
• What is the typical turnout for primaries?

  Typically under 30%
• What was the turnout rate for midterm elections in 2014?

  Around 42%
• What was notable about the turnout in the 2018 midterm elections?

  It was at a record high of 50%
• What was the turnout rate in the 2020 election?

  66.4%

  
• What are some reasons for high abstention levels in US elections?

  Proactive registration, difficult postal voting, high nomination thresholds
• What is a requirement for Americans regarding voting registration?

  They must proactively register to vote
• How do some states complicate postal voting?


  They do not make postal voting easy
• What can high thresholds for nomination signatures lead to?

  Limited range of candidates standing
• What impact do tougher voter ID laws have?

  They can limit voter participation
• How many voter registrations were cancelled in Georgia between 2014 and 2018?

  More than 1.4 million
• What is voter fatigue?

  A feeling of tiredness or disinterest in voting due to frequent elections
• What is a consequence of a lack of viable choice in elections?

  Discrimination against third-party and independent candidates
• What are the main reasons for split ticket voting?

  • Reflects preferences for personalities over parties
  • US parties have traditionally been broadchurch
  • Many opportunities to split one’s ballot due to numerous elected offices
• What factors explain the relatively high level of abstention rates in US elections?

  • Proactive registration requirement
  • Difficulty with postal voting in some states
  • High thresholds for nomination signatures
  • Tough voter ID laws and voter roll purging
  • Voter fatigue
  • Lack of viable choice
• What was the ruling of the Supreme Court in Citizens United v FEC (2010)?

  Corporations and labor organizations should have the same rights of political free speech as individuals.
• What are Super PACs?

  Political committees that make independent expenditures but do not contribute to candidates.