VOTING AND ELECTIONS Elections and Democracy ßDemocratic

VOTING AND ELECTIONS

Elections and Democracy ßDemocratic control ßElections are essential for democratic politics. ßElections are the principal means by which popular sovereignty and majority rule are supposed to work. ßCan elections ensure that governments will do what the people want?

Purpose of Elections

Political Participation ßPolitical participation refers to political activity by individual citizens. ßUnconventional participation — includes activities such as demonstrations and boycotts ßConventional participation — includes activities such as voting, writing letters, contacting officials, giving money

ßExpansion of the franchise ßThe franchise was quite restricted in the early years of the United States. ßThe expansion of the right to vote has been one of the most important developments in the political history of the United States. ßDirect partisan elections

ßThe vanishing electorate ßSuffrage expanded to more groups during the first century of American history, and larger proportions voted. ßVoter turnout rate in the U. S. is very low compared with other modern industrialized countries. ßThe ideal of political equality is violated by low rates of voter turnout.

Barriers to Voting ßCauses of low voter turnout ßRegistration ßEligibility rules Cal. (illegal – under 18, noncitizen, state resident requirements, non prisoners/parolees, non legally insane) ßAlienation and apathy about politics that many Americans felt after the 1960 s

California Registration ß The deadline November 5, 2002 General Election is October 21, 2002. Register criteria: 1. United States citizen 2. resident of California 3. at least 18 years of age (or by next election date)

ß 4. not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony 5. not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register and vote

You will need to reregister when ß You move; You change your name; change your political party affiliation: Fill-out a Voter Registration Form Online We recommend you use this service at least one month prior to election day to avoid missing your opportunity to vote due to postal delays.

Campaigning Involvement ßDespite low voter turnout levels, Americans are more likely than people in other countries to participate actively in campaigns. ßAreas of involvement ßContact officials ßGive money ßAttend meetings ßAttend political rallies ßWork actively in a campaign organization

Who Participates? ßCharacteristics of voters and nonvoters ßThere is class bias in voting and other forms of political participation. ßSome statistical analyses indicate that the crucial factor in voter turnout is the level of formal education. ßIncome level may be more important than education in affecting who actually votes.

Does It Matter Who Votes? ß Two contrasting points of view ß The rate of participation is unimportant because the preferences of those who vote are similar to those who do not vote. ß low voter turnout rate may be a positive factor since A more educated people vote. ßNonvoters are clearly different from voters. ßHow participation can make a change ßBroader participation would increase popular sovereignty and political equality.

Types of Elections ßPrimary election – direct partisan elections where voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party’s ticket in the general election ßClosed primaries – party registered voters to cast a ballot ßOpen primaries – allows independents to vote

ßBlanket primaries – voters casts ballots in either party’s primary (but not both) on an office –byoffice basis ßRunoff primary – a second primary election among candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary ßNonpartisan primary – done in California’s local elections ßGeneral Elections – voters decide which candidate will fill public office

Elections & voters making Laws ßApplies to Cal. & around 17 other States (famous proposition #s-13, 5, 215) ßInitiative – voters propose legislation to be place on the state ballot ßReferendum – allows a legislative statute from taking effect. ßRecall – allows voters to remove elected officials from state or local office between elections.

The Initiative Mess ßBallot measure represent big $ ßNew policy entrepreneurs can emerge ßCampaigns increasingly rely on television ßElected official employ the initiative ßLocal gov’t workload increaseses after passage

Purpose of Campaigns

Campaigning for Office ßContending for a presidential nomination ßPrimaries and caucuses ßMomentum ßHow to win — factors that affect candidates’ success in gaining delegate support ßNational conventions

Nomination Politics and Democracy ß“However, the crucial role of party activists and money givers in selecting candidates means that nominees and their policy stands are chosen partly to appeal to party elites and financial contributors, rather than to ordinary voter. ”

Money and Elections ßPresidential campaigns cost enormous amounts of money. ßThe cost has increased rapidly over time. ßThe source of campaign money is far more problematic for democracy than the cost of presidential elections. ßWhere does the money come from? ßDoes money talk?

How Voters Decide ßThe way in which people make their voting decisions affects how elections contribute to democratic control of government. ßParties, candidates, and issues all have substantial effects on how people vote. ßSocial characteristics and party loyalties ßCandidates ßIssues

The Electoral College ßWhen voting for president, American voters are actually voting for a slate of electors who have promised to support the candidate. Consequences of the electoral college system ßMagnifies the popular support for winners ßMay let the less popular candidate win ßIt discourages third parties

How does it work? ß Electors are allocated to the states based on their representation in Congress - one elector for each of the two Senators, one for each representative. For the decade of the 1990's, California has 54 electoral votes.

ßOn the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors representing the party whose presidential slate garnered the most votes assemble in the Senate Chambers of the State Capitol at 2: 00 p. m. to cast their votes, voting separate ballots for President and Vice President. The results are sealed and delivered to the Secretary of the United States Senate; the Senate tallies the states' votes and officially declares the President.

ßElectors are paid $10 plus mileage (5¢ per mile) for the round trip from their homes to the Capitol. Arrangements for the college meeting are handled through the Governor's office.

ßAll states but Maine and Nebraska have a winner-take-all system for electors; in those two states electoral votes are awarded proportionately. US Senate historian indicates one California instance of "faithless electors" -- one who voted for Wm. Jennings Bryan when the state went for Wm. Mc. Kinley (1900).

What happens if the electoral vote is a tie? ßThe House of Representatives makes the decision with each state having one vote. Representatives of at least two-thirds of the states must be present for the vote. If they cannot decide by March 4, then the Vice President becomes President and the person receiving the largest number of Vice President votes becomes Vice President.

How are electors chosen? ß Each party determines its own method for selecting electors. In the Democratic Party, each congressional nominee and each US Senate nominee (determined by the last two elections) designates one elector whose names are filed with Secretary of State by October 1 of the presidential election year.

ß In the Republican Party, the nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, controller, attorney general, secretary of state, United States Senators (again, going back two elections) the Senate and Assembly Republican leaders, all elected officers of the Republican state central committee, the national committeeman and committeewoman, the president of the Republican county central committee chairmen's organization and the chair or president of each Republican volunteer organization officially recognized by the state central committee act as electors.

ßNo incumbent Senators, congressional representatives or persons holding an office of trust or profit of the US can serve as electors. American Independent electors are selected at the party's nominating convention, as are those of the Libertarian, Natural Law, and Reform parties, who further specify a 50/50 ratio of men and women.

ßFor more information, you may want to look at the following sites: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) This site provides answers to frequently asked questions on the electoral college. Santa Cruz County Elections Department - What is the Electoral college? This site provides information on the origins of the electoral college, the pros and cons of the electoral college and the rules that govern the electoral college today.

Do Elections Matter? ßIn terms of the responsible party government theory. . . ßRepublicans tend to be more conservative than Democrats on a number of economic and social issues. ßThis provides voters with a measure of democratic control by enabling them to detect differences and make choices.

ßVoters exercise control in the electoral competition theory by either reelecting successful incumbents or defeating unsuccessful officeholders. ßElections force parties to compete by nominating centrist candidates and by taking similar popular positions. ßU. S. elections help make the public’s voice heard, but political equality is damaged by providing more political influence to some types of people than to others.