HY 357 Lecture Notes - Lecture 37: Civil Disobedience, Franklin D. Roosevelt
6 Jun 2018
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Voting Choices
When it comes to the actual elections, voters have some choice in how they cast their ballots.
They may strongly support a political party and vote for that party's candidates. Voters may turn
to a candidate based on his or her personality, or they may vote for or against candidates solely
on their stand on a particular issue.
Voting the party line
A strong supporter of a party usually votes a straight party ticket. A Democrat votes for
Democratic candidates for all elected offices, and Republicans do the same. About a
quarter of the electorate votes in this way. Those with a lower sense of party
identification vote more independently. They vote for a split ticket, choosing a
Democrat for one office and a Republican for another. The major influence on party
affiliation is family background. If your parents were Democrats, chances are that you
will be one, too. Such commitments are often lifelong, but not rigidly so. An individual
who becomes a successful businessperson may become a Republican in the belief that
the party better represents his or her interests.
The personality element
Some candidates have such strong personalities that voters will cross party lines to
support them. Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan exemplified
high levels of personal appeal, just as Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter did not. In looking
at personality, voters may also consider such factors as character and the way
candidates lead their personal life.
Issue voting
Many voters claim they vote solely on the issues, meaning that they choose a candidate
by where he or she stands on questions of great importance to them. In recent years,
several issues have surfaced as litmus tests for candidates running for office. These
include such controversial subjects as abortion, immigration reform, and affirmative
action. Some people simply will not vote for a candidate who takes a position on these
issues contrary to their own. When two candidates share the same view on litmus-test
issues, issue voters may have a difficult time deciding which person best represents
their concerns.
Alternatives to voting
There are other ways to express oneself politically. Many states have adopted
the initiative as a way of passing laws that the legislature refused or was afraid to
consider. A minimum number of registered voter signatures on a petition qualifies an
initiative proposal for the ballot. Originally designed as a reform measure during the
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
When it comes to the actual elections, voters have some choice in how they cast their ballots. They may strongly support a political party and vote for that party"s candidates. Voters may turn to a candidate based on his or her personality, or they may vote for or against candidates solely on their stand on a particular issue. A strong supporter of a party usually votes a straight party ticket. Democratic candidates for all elected offices, and republicans do the same. About a quarter of the electorate votes in this way. Those with a lower sense of party identification vote more independently. They vote for a split ticket, choosing a. Democrat for one office and a republican for another. The major influence on party affiliation is family background. If your parents were democrats, chances are that you will be one, too. Such commitments are often lifelong, but not rigidly so.
