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Explore the decision-making processes of voters in American elections, focusing on party identification, candidate characteristics, issue positions, and past evaluations. Learn how factors like race, gender, religion, education, and income influence voter choices in both presidential and congressional elections. Understand the dynamics of issue voting and retrospective voting, and discover why party identification plays a different role in each type of election. Gain insights into the rising trend of split-ticket voting and the implications for campaign strategies.
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American Government and Organization PS1301 Wednesday, 29 October
How do people decide? • The Michigan Model (prospective model) • Party identification • Candidate characteristics • Issue positions
Requirements for Issue Voting • Aware of the issue • Care about the issue • Perceive difference between the candidates • Correct about the difference
Dynamics of 2000 Presidential Campaign Source: Johnston and Hagen (APSA 2003) “Priming and Learning: Evidence from the 2000 Annenberg Study”
Retrospective Voting • Party identification • Evaluation of the past • economic indicators • Wars • Incumbency
Religion Bush Gore Nader
Unions and Religion Bush Gore Nader
How do Presidential Elections and Congressional Elections Differ? • Presidential elections are more salient • The average voter has more information about the presidential candidates than congressional candidates. • Consequently, party identification may play a lesser role in pres. elections • Voters are more inclined to be influenced by personal/candidate characteristics and issue voting may be more prevalent.
Congressional Elections • The empirical evidence suggests that party labels are have a greater effect when information about the candidate is low • U.S. Rep • State Senator • St. Assy. • County Board
Congressional Elections • Decline in party id means that other cues become more important • Incumbency • Name recognition