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Elections and Voting
An election is a modern democratic decision-making process in which people choose an individual to hold public office. Elections are also used in different private and business organizations, voluntary associations and corporations.
5,545 Questions
How were people elected into Parliament in 1830?
In 1830, Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom were elected through what was known as the rotten borough system. This system allocated seats in Parliament based on the population size of each borough, however, it was heavily manipulated and corrupt. Many boroughs had very small populations but still held seats, and these seats were often controlled by wealthy individuals or influential families. The Reform Act of 1832 would later introduce reforms to this system and increase representation for urban areas.
Why do political candidates break their promises when they get in office?
It is a popular misconception that politicians always break the promises they make when elected to public office. There is little evidence to support the idea that politicians fail to keep most of their election commitments, especially in nations where parties produce concrete election manifestos. According to independent analysts at the Tampa Bay Times, US President Barack Obama has either kept or is in the process of realising 59% of the promises he made in the 2008 federal election campaign. A further 14% of the 500+ promises he made were partially realised; only 16% of his promises were actually broken, whilst one in ten were stalled, either by the President or the opposition. This represents a success rate of 73% for President Obama in office - other politicians have comparable success rates, though there are outliers either way.
It is important to remember that opposition parties and critical media outlets have a vested image in making incumbent politicians look like promise-breakers; this wounds their political credibility and makes it harder for them to win re-election. It is important to always be mindful of where criticism of public figures is coming from; politics is an emotional business and every person or organisation engaged in it has their own vested interests in the success or failure of different political leaders.
Having said that, it is an inevitability that public office holders will break some of their promises to the electorate. There are a number of reasons why this might be the case:
- Practical impossibility: it is often difficult to judge what exactly is possible in office until one is elected, particularly when it comes to spending commitments. What seemed like a good idea on paper may not be workable in reality, forcing candidates to abandon a pledge.
- Lack of political will: a policy one candidate or leader is passionate about may not be so enthusiastically received by others in their party, or in the civil service. In these circumstances, it may simply be too difficult to find support from other politicians for the policy.
- Lack of political authority: in political systems where executive and legislative (law-making) powers belong to different people, it may be difficult to get one branch to do what the other wants. For example, if the President (executive) is from Party A and wants to legalise gay marriage, but Party B controls the legislature, Party B can stop the President from implementing Party A's policy, because only the legislature can change the law in such a big way.
- Popular opposition: policies may become unpopular over time, leading to their abandonment by politicians. Simply because a candidate or party won an election does not mean the voters liked every single one of the policies they campaigned for.
- Compromise: it is often necessary to find a middle-ground in politics. Parties and candidates want the reforms they make to last as long as possible; this often mandates that they reach a compromise with other parties to ensure their reforms will stay once they leave office. This can result in some election promises being abandoned.
- Incompetence or failure: some policies can be difficult to translate from paper to reality. It is not uncommon for ambitious reform programmes to be poorly managed, badly implement, become inefficient and/or run over-budget. In these circumstances, it is often better for everyone involved to abandon the policy completely rather than try to salvage reform with further reform.
- Change of circumstance: politicians are usually expected to serve in office for close to half a decade per term. Circumstances can change, and solutions that may have worked for problems at the start of a term may not be as effective at the end of it. Similarly, candidates may over-estimate how much time they have and under-estimate how much effort is needed in office, forcing them to abandon or delay some commitments to a second or even third term.
- Electioneering: in some circumstances, politicians or parties may make promises they know they are unlikely to keep in order to increase their chances of winning public office. Many candidates for public office understand this is an unwise move, however; a politician is more likely to be re-elected and to be remembered fondly if s/he keeps his/her promises to the electorate. Electioneering in this way is not necessarily malicious or selfish, either - many politicians take the view that it is better to have the chance of implement most of your programme than none of it, and so may be willing to make populist but difficult-to-keep promises so they can get elected and implement the rest of their election platform.
- Corruption: every class of people has its bad eggs. There are sadly those who are involved in politics for all the wrong reasons, who may be content to blatantly lie to the electorate and go back on commitments once in office.
- Human error: politicians are people, and people break promises all the time, often without wanting to. Every Human being makes mistakes.
What was the south's response to the election?
The South's response to the election can vary depending on the specific election being referred to. However, in general, the South often did not view the election results favorably if they perceived it as a threat to their interests, particularly regarding issues such as slavery or states' rights. In some cases, there were even calls for secession or other forms of resistance.
Who is in charge of the Rassmussen polls?
"Rasmussen reports was originally founded by Scott Rasmussen who is the head of the company now. Their polls however are looked over by a sister company, Pulse Opinion Research, also founded by Scott Rasmussen."
What role do conventions play in the in the presidential nominating process?
Conventions play a crucial role in the presidential nominating process as they serve as the culmination of the primary and caucus season. They provide a platform for political parties to officially nominate their candidate and unite party members behind a shared goal. Conventions also serve as a spectacle, allowing candidates to showcase their leadership and vision to a wide audience, and they often result in a post-convention bounce in public opinion for the nominee.
How does staying informed on certain issues help voters?
It helps them figure out who they should vote for. If you care about education and members of one party are doing nothing about it, then you might want to vote for the other party, even if they are not yours. Otherwise, you might simply vote a straight ticket for your party.
For instance, suppose a Republican is transgender, they are in North Carolina, and it is the 2016 election. They might vote for Donald Trump (R) and also vote for Roy Cooper (D) to get rid of Gov. Pat McCrory (R) who signed the controversial law against transgender people. If they were not informed, they might have voted again for McCrory. And if they were even more informed and realized Cooper's stance on immigration, then they might consider a 3rd party candidate, though that could increase the chances of McCrory win since that would be a vote spent on a candidate that likely cannot win because that party is too small.
Which of these best describes events surrounding South Carolina's election of 1876?
The election of 1876 in South Carolina was marked by widespread voter fraud and violence. The Republican and Democratic parties both claimed victory, leading to a political and constitutional crisis. Ultimately, a compromise was reached that allowed Republican Rutherford B. Hayes to become president in exchange for the end of Reconstruction and the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.
Broad suffrage refers to the extension of voting rights to a large segment of the population, regardless of factors such as race, gender, or wealth. It means that a significant portion of citizens have the ability to participate in the political process and have a say in the selection of government officials. Broad suffrage is often seen as a key aspect of democratic societies.
Where would one purchase a ballot box?
One can purchase a ballot box from office supply stores, online retailers, or specialized retailers that sell election supplies. These can include websites such as Amazon, Staples, or dedicated election supply companies. Additionally, local government offices or election commissions may have resources or recommendations for purchasing a ballot box.
How many votes did Cochran get when he won Survivor?
How many votes did john Cochran get when he won survivor?
Read more: How_many_votes_did_cochran_get_when_he_won_survivor
Horatio Seymour as their candidate. Seymour was the Governor of New York at the time and had previously served as the mayor of Utica. He was known for his conservative viewpoints and his opposition to Reconstruction policies. Despite his efforts, Grant won the election and became the 18th President of the United States.
Why the members of the boule chosen by lot instead of in an election?
The boule was an advisory citizen body of the Athenian democracy. Members had to be over 30 and citizens could serve on it twice, which was more than other elected offices. There were either 400 or 500 members of the boule, who were selected by lot in equal number by each of the ten tribes. In Aristotle's Constitution of Athens, he attributes to Draco a boule of 401 members, but Solon is generally taken as the one who started the boule, with 400.
What is a current criticism of the election process?
A current criticism of the election process is the lack of transparency and potential for voter fraud, particularly in the United States. Some critics argue that the use of electronic voting machines and the absence of paper trails make it difficult to verify the accuracy of election results. Additionally, concerns about voter suppression and gerrymandering have also been raised, highlighting the need for electoral reforms.
In what way did perot expect Texas to help him in the election of 1992?
Ross Perot, a successful businessman and multibillionaire from Texas, expected that his work with the schools in Texas, specifically the state school system, would win him the election. However, Perot dropped out of the race in July, claiming the Republican Party planned to smear his daughter.
How many electoral votes does Tucson have today?
Tucson does not have any electoral votes. Based on the 2010 Census, Arizona has 11 electoral votes. Arizona appoints its electors on a winner-take-all basis, based on the Arizona statewide popular vote on Election Day.
What is the role that polling plays in election?
The role of polling in elections is to gather data on public opinion and voter preferences. Polls provide a snapshot of voter sentiment and can help political campaigns strategize and make informed decisions. They are also used by media outlets to gauge the popularity of candidates and to make predictions about election outcomes.
What was voter turnout in the 2016 election?
Republican Party candidate Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election defeating Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton. In the 2016 presidential election Donald Trump received 304 (56.5%) electoral votes and Hillary Clinton received 227 (42.2%) electoral votes. Due to faithless voting, others receiving electoral votes were Colin Powell 3, Bernie Sanders 1, Ron Paul 1, John Kasich 1, and Faith Spotted Eagle 1. The popular vote totals were Clinton 65,794,399 and Trump 62,955,202.
Which type of election of the current republican primary election?
The current Republican primary election is a closed primary election. This means that only registered Republican voters are allowed to participate in selecting the party's nominee for the presidency.
What is one of the purposes that elections serve is to provide?
Elections provide the general population an opportunity to choose which laws they wish to pass, and who they want in office.
The electors are elected by popular vote in each state and each candidate for elector swears in advance whom he will vote for. If the elector ultimately votes for a candidate other than the candidate the elector swears in advance that he will vote for, the elector is referred to as a "faithless elector".
If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that the U.S. House of Representatives will select the president, with each of the fifty state delegations casting one vote, and the U.S. Senate will select the vice-president.
What does a president get when they win an election?
When a president wins an election, they acquire the authority to hold the highest office in the country and become the head of state and government. They are given a range of powers and responsibilities, including the ability to make and enforce laws, represent the nation domestically and internationally, and appoint key officials to various positions in the government. Additionally, they receive a salary and benefits package.
Why is the Electoral College a continual issue of debate for many U.S. citizens?
The debate surrounding the Electoral College stems from several reasons. First, there is a disparity in the weight of individual votes, as some states have more electoral votes per capita than others. Second, the Electoral College can lead to a candidate winning the presidency despite losing the popular vote, which some argue is undemocratic. Lastly, critics argue that it can discourage voter turnout in states where the outcome is already predictable, as those votes may seem less influential.
