Split Ticket Voting Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What is split ticket voting?

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election.

What is straight ticket voting?

Voting for candidates of only one party in an election.

Give a general example of split ticket voting.

Voting for a Democrat President balanced by voting for a Republican senator.

How does split ticket voting vary?

<p>Over time and region to region.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the example of split ticket voting in 1984 vs 2012?

<p>45% of districts split their ticket in 1984 vs only 6% in 2012.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the split ticket voting example in 2008?

<p>9% voted for Obama whilst voting for a Republican member of Congress and 10% voted McCain whilst voting for a Democrat congressman.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Montana example of split ticket voting?

<p>They have voted for a Republican presidency and a Democrat senator 9 times in the last 90 years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the phenomenon of split ticket voting occur?

<p>Cognitive Madisonianism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is cognitive Madisonianism?

<p>Voters want two different parties to have control to check the power on each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where was split ticket voting common?

<p>In the South, where conservative Democrats are often elected to Congress alongside Republican candidates for the presidency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is split ticket voting closely linked to incumbency?

<p>Voters tend to retain their loyalty to congressional candidates even if they switch presidential candidates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the 1996 example of split ticket voting?

<p>Lackluster Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole was well behind in the polls, yet Republican supporters returned a Republican Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the reasons for split ticket voting?

<ol> <li>Policy balancing model. 2. Different expectations. 3. Quality of candidates.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is the policy balancing model?

<p>Voters intentionally split their vote to balance the extreme positions of the two main political parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What links with the policy balancing model?

<p>Cognitive Madisonianism, where voters impose their own checks and balances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is different expectation in the context of split ticket voting?

<p>Voters realize that each elected body has different roles to play.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Given the different expectations, how will a congress member be re-elected?

<p>If they 'deliver the pork', irrespective of which party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of different expectations meaning congressmen are re-elected if they deliver the pork?

<p>Members of Congress adopt a home style that pleases their local electorate at the expense of national issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term Home Style Politics?

<p>Political scientist Richard Fenno in 1978.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the quality of candidates example in 1972?

<p>Richard Nixon won a landslide victory against George McGovern, yet the Democrats still controlled Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the issue with George McGovern?

<p>Generally seen as too liberal for the US electorate, as his platform included immediate withdrawal from Vietnam.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can split ticket voting translate into? Give an example.

<p>Gubernatorial elections; e.g., in Montana in 2004, returning Democrat governor Brian Schweitzer while George Bush Jr claimed the EC votes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a lagged split ticket effect?

<p>When the electorate seeks to moderate an executive it sees as too extreme.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the coattails effect?

<p>When the charisma and popularity of a presidential candidate translates to gains in Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the coattails effect important according to Jacobson 2009?

<p>A president can achieve more with his party controlling Congress than when facing a hostile Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Split Ticket Voting

  • Involves voting for candidates from different political parties for different offices during the same election.

Straight Ticket Voting

  • Refers to voting exclusively for candidates from a single political party across all positions in an election.

General Example of Split Ticket Voting

  • A voter supports a Democrat for President while choosing a Republican for Senate in the same election.

Variation Over Time and Regions

  • Patterns of split ticket voting change over time and vary significantly from region to region.

1984 vs. 2012

  • In 1984, 45% of districts experienced split ticket voting; by 2012, this had plummeted to 6%.

2008 Voting Patterns

  • In the 2008 election, 9% supported Obama while voting Republican for Congress; 10% supported McCain while voting for a Democrat in Congress.

Montana Voting History

  • Montana voters have elected a Republican president and a Democrat senator 9 times in the last 90 years.

Cognitive Madisonianism

  • This concept explains the desire for divided government, where voters prefer two parties to balance each other’s power.

Origins of Cognitive Madisonianism

  • The phenomenon derives from voters wanting to ensure mutual checks on power through electoral choices.
  • Historically, split ticket voting was common in the South, with conservative Democrats often elected alongside Republican presidential candidates.

Incumbency and Voting Loyalty

  • Voters may shift presidential candidate support, but maintain loyalty to local congressional candidates, reflecting incumbency strength.

1996 Election Insights

  • Bob Dole’s lackluster candidacy led Republican voters to prioritize maintaining a Republican Congress despite their presidential vote.

Reasons Behind Split Ticket Voting

  • Policy balancing model
  • Different expectations from elected officials
  • Quality of candidates available

Policy Balancing Model Explained

  • Voters intentionally split their votes to counteract perceived extremes of the two main political parties to encourage consensus-based policies.

Relationship with Cognitive Madisonianism

  • Cognitive Madisonianism is integral to the policy balancing model, as it represents the electorate's mindset favoring shared power.

Different Expectations

  • Voters understand distinct roles for elected officials, with presidents focusing on national/international issues and Congress on local/regional matters.

Congressional Re-election based on Local Needs

  • Congress members are likely to be re-elected if they deliver on local issues, regardless of their party affiliation.

Home Style Politics Concept

  • Coined by political scientist Richard Fenno in 1978, referring to Congress members’ focus on localized voter needs over national issues.

1972 Election Dynamics

  • Richard Nixon won decisively against George McGovern, yet Democrats maintained control of Congress, exemplifying split ticket outcomes.

George McGovern's Appeal

  • Seen as overly liberal by many voters, McGovern’s positions included immediate Vietnam withdrawal and expansive social policies.

Split Ticket Voting in Gubernatorial Elections

  • An example is in Montana in 2004 where voters elected a Democrat governor but supported George Bush for the presidency.

Consequence: Lagged Split Ticket Effect

  • Reflects a tendency to moderate an executive perceived as extreme, such as in the 2006 elections when Democrats took over Congress.

Consequence: Coattails Effect

  • Charismatic presidential candidates can enhance congressional gains for their party, as seen in 1980 when Republicans gained seats alongside Reagan.

Importance of Coattails Effect

  • Jacobson (2009) asserts that a president's ability to enact policies greatly increases when their party controls Congress, impacting legislative success, as seen with Obama’s health reforms.

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Description

This quiz covers the concepts of split ticket and straight ticket voting through flashcards. Understand the differences and examples of how voters can mix choices across party lines in elections. Perfect for students preparing for political science exams.

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