- Elections, especially in democracy, control political behavior/decisions - The system can be manipulated - The gov't doesn't represent everybody; it represents voters - Young people don't vote, so they aren't pandered to - Belief that the issues being discussed are distant - So you need to participate - Because your future is being decided now How Dr. Rich socializes his kids to their civic duty - Mocked up ballot box, voter ID, "I voted" stickers - Brings his kids to the polls, or involves them with mail-in ballots - Election participation is a civic duty - Has a profound impact - Ex: suffrage rights "All men are created equal" was in no way correct. Liberalist idealism - In some states, only 10% voted. - Property qualifications, "economic stake=political stake" Suffrage is now, in the letter of the law, for every adult citizen who hasn't "violated their civic responsibility" (like prisoners). How did it develop over time? - African Americans - 1865-70 "Civil War Amendments" - (Only) during Reconstruction--2 black people elected to Senate and 14 to House - After Reconstruction ends with Union soldiers leaving, they get redisenfranchised. - After 1901, next to serve was 1972 - Southerners did much of the active prohibition of voting - But federal gov't and many Northerners stood by - Literacy tests and "Character tests" (very low pass rate) - Employer permission to vote - Restrictions on voter registration - 1965 Voting Rights Act - An active law; funding withheld from states - Turnout was low in first few years, but they eventually returned. - Women - Could, sometimes, inherit property from husbands or male relatives. - When only property determined voting rights, women could vote. - But by 1910, only 4 states had given women the right to vote. - Powerful interests opposed suffrage - Southern whites didn't - Manufacturers didn't - because women would vote against child labor (very cheap) - Catholic Church - "Vote is contrary to the proper role of women" - British women's suffrage movement - Gave a playbook/methods for influencing change - Cannot be a private act; must be public like marches, protests - Also have to make those in power (men) care about the issue - Women boycott domestic work - Well-timed, uses WWI. 19th Amendment 1920 - The black vote is very important for Democrats. - Women are a really big "swing" constituency, but is less monolithic and more regional. Who runs for office? - Two types 1) Self-starters = independent | not supported by party est. - to gain publicity (for a non-political career) - ex: possibly Trump, Mary Kerry for gov of CA - specific policy issues - political cause (not single-issue but a focus like Green Party) - usually not a national election; state or regional 2) Recruited (by the party) Candidates - chosen based on "particular qualities" (electability) - ex: funding - either from the people---small-dollar donations for a compelling story - large-dollar donations for policy quality (often from corporate/wealthy interests) - past success like Trump being a great shuckster (built brand) What is the modern campaign like? - Used to be super personal, even 40--50 years ago. - Candidates would go around, shake hands, etc - "Cyclical dependence on contributions" - Campaign costs have increased severely - Every dollar counts because high cost of failure - Tens of millions for House races, billions for pres. - The Rise of "Political Consultants" - Devise a campaign image OR a strategy - Image = what the voter sees, messaging - Also check viability for a candidate - Polling based on "how does this sound" - Case studies of "can this candidate win the election" - Strategy - How to win - "Your role is to get fired" - Often expensive: $300--700/hr Running for President Stage 1 - Primaries - Closed primary = only members registered to the political party can participate in the vote - Open primary = voters can choose party primary to vote in but can only choose one - Vast majority of primaries are this kind - Georgia's primary - Has runoff for non-majority primary, requiring you to have originally voted in that primary - Blanket primary - Can vote in either or BOTH primaries - No state uses a pure form of blanket primary - Ruled unconstitutional in 2000 for California - Parties were forced to put candidates on ballot that they didn't endorse - Alternative: Caucus method - Completely different from a primary - Iowa caucus - Iowans care more about their vote - Candidates are very personal, and since Iowa's pretty small; candidates will actually visit every county - Each town organizes a group of people together in one physical location, like a high school gym. - Grouped by which candidate you will vote for. - Then people campaign to each other to move people around until candidates pass a certain threshold number of suporters. - A proportional representation is sent to the state caucus - Long, drawn-out, time-consuming discussions - Conventions: after either system, this is like a "coronation party" for the nominee. The Electoral College Stage 2 Article II, Sec 1; Amendments 12 and 23 - Four noble and not-so-noble reasons - So that we know who actually wins, like pluralities can't be disputed - Ensure that everyone is actually represented - Avoid "tyranny of the majority" - States and federalism is important to the US - Against "one person, one vote" - Popular vote may have prevented the South from actually joining the nation - North had a greater population, and slaves didn't vote, but South wanted sufficient power to join - For first 36yrs, pres. was from Virginia - Makes turnout really important Technicalities - Ballots are an important consideration for electoral outcomes (like modern argument over absentee ballots) - All ballots are "Australian [secret] ballot" - Office-block ballot: grouped by electoral office - Multiple parties could claim a candidate for a party - Can be a bit trickier, more complicated - Greater emphasis on candidates than people (party affiliation still there) - WAY more common - Party column ballot: grouped by party - Voting by mail - Increases participation - Changes the real end date of the election - In case you can't get home or are out-of-district on voting day(s) - Not built to handle pandemics