1	VOTING AND ELECTIONS
2	Elections and Democracy Democratic control Elections essential for democracy Elections allow popular sovereignty / majority rule to work
3	Two-Party Elections Should Provide Democratic Government Responsible party government Elections provide choices Electoral competition Parties compete by taking popular positions
4	Two-Party Elections Cont. Electoral reward / punishment - people vote for incumbents when times good / against them when times bad
5	Imperfect Electoral Democracy Democratic control works most of the time No guarantee of democratic outcomes
6	Political Participation Political participation - activity by individuals Unconventional participation demonstrations / boycotts / sit-ins Conventional participation — voting / writing letters / contacting officials / giving money
7	Expansion of the Franchise Voting restricted in early years Expansion of right to vote – 15^th Amendment / 19^th Amendment
8	Vanishing Electorate Suffrage expanded during first century Voter turnout low
9	Barriers to Voting Reasons for low voter turnout: Registration Lack of good choices Alienation / apathy of the 1960s Lack of voter mobilization
10	Campaigning Involvement Americans more likely to participate in campaigns (don’t necessarily vote) Areas of involvement Give money Attend meetings Attend political rallies Work actively in a campaign organization
11	Who Participates? Characteristics of voters and nonvoters Class bias in voting Voter turnout related to education Income important to how people vote
12	Does It Matter Who Votes? Unimportant? - preferences of those who vote are similar to those who do not vote Low voter turnout - may be a positive since more educated people vote Nonvoters different from voters? More participation would increase popular sovereignty?
13	Campaigning for Office Contending for presidential nomination Who has a chance? Primaries and caucuses Momentum National conventions
14	Nominations Incumbents / Campaigns Campaigns once began on Labor Day / now begin after the Conventions Campaign organizations in each state Intense fund raising Media blitz Focus groups Voter registration / Get out the vote
15	Money and Elections Campaigns cost money Cost going up Source of money problematic for democracy Where does the money come from? Does money talk?
16	How Voters Decide Parties / candidates / issues affect how people vote Social characteristics / party loyalties
17	The Electoral College Voters vote for a slate of electors Most states have winner-take-all systems Electoral college system usually works Consequences of the electoral college
18	Do Elections Matter? Responsible party government theory... Republicans tend to be more conservative on some economic / social issues Provides democratic control by allowing voters to make choices
19	Electoral Competition Theory Voters exercise control by reelecting incumbents or electing challengers Parties compete by nominating centrist candidates Elections make public heard