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THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND DIRECT DEMOCRACY, media: closely tied with…

- - - - incumbency:
        
        2020 - 86% of senators and 95% of house members were re-elected.
        
        not a reflection of positive approval ratings though - congress had rarely had approval ratings above 10% in recent years - potentially explained by states blaming other states and not their own representatives.
        
        since 1945, only 4 presidents failed to be re-elected - Ford, Carter, Bush Sr and Trump.
        
        incumbents tend to raise and spend more money.
        also have more established names and have established campaign teams and staff.
        
        can also highlight concrete past achievements and voting records to electors.
        
        pork barrelling.
        
        house representatives can be helped by friendly gerrymandering - or hindered by a hostile one for a long-serving incumbent - e.g. Michigan Republican candidate in 2022 retired instead of facing hostile democrat gerrymandering.
- - - - hard money:
        
        money raised and donated to official campaigns.
        
        subject to limits on size and frequency of donations.
        
        soft money:
        
        money raised and spent independently of the candidates official campaign but which supports them or attacks their opponent.
        
        not subject to limits.
    - - :check: election expenditure is out of control and 2020 saw a record amount spent on electioneering.
        :check: emphasis on fundraising distracts elected representatives from doing their job.
        :check: cost means that only the personally wealthy or well connected can afford to involve themselves in politics furthering its elitist nature.
        :check: SC's recent decisions have added to the problem - issue needs to be tackled by constitutional amendment.
        :check: reform needed to plug loopholes like Super PACs - too much political influence from these wealthy interest which raises issue of corruption and 'buying votes' in congress.
        :check: matching funding has died out - in 2020 all candidates chose to opt out.
      - :red_cross: allowing for inflation, 2016 saw slightly less spent than 2008 and 2012.
        :red_cross: candidates still need to listen to a wide range of voters and participate in 'town hall meetings'.
        :red_cross: reason congress is so unproductive now is to do with hyperpartisanship and not the distraction of fundraising.
        :red_cross: fundraising and political donations are a key part of the democratic process - allow supporters to show additional support to candidates and causes.
        :red_cross: SC has simply upheld 1st amendment rights regarding freedom in political activity when striking down reform laws - upheld Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2003.
        :red_cross: whatever reforms are passed the wealthy will find loopholes.
- - - - GENDER:
        
        women are more inclined to vote democrat.
        
        2020:
        55% of women voted for biden.
        50% of men voted for trump.
        
        RELIGION:
        
        white evangelical christians strongly back the republicans.
        
        non religious voters tend to lean towards democrat.
        
        2020:
        84% fo white evangelicals supported trump.
        71% of those without religious affiliation voted biden.
        
        EDUCATION:
        
        voters with a uni degree are significantly more likely to vote democrat.
        
        2020:
        56% of those with degrees voted biden.
        50% of non-graduate vote was secured by trump.
        
        SEXUAL ORIENTATION:
        
        most who identify as LGBTQ+ vote democrat.
        
        2020:
        only 14% voted trump wheres 81% voted for biden.
        
        GEOGRAPHY:
        
        small town, suburban and rural areas favour republicans.
        
        large urban areas are normally democrat strongholds.
        
        2020:
        biden won 66% of vote in urban areas.
        trump won 65% of vote in rural counties.
        
        AGE:
        
        young people tend to vote democrat and older republican.
        
        2020:
        59% of under 30s voted democrat.
        52% of over 65s voted republican.
      - WEALTH:
        
        not such a significant difference as may be expected.
        
        2020:
        54% of those earning over $100,000 pa voted trump.
        55% of those earning under $50,000 pa voted biden.
  - - - PERSONALITIES:
        
        candidates' background and experience.
        
        2020:
        
        harder for trump to portray himself as anti-establishment outsider in 2020 compared to 2016.
        
        biden emphasised his experience and stability having been VP for 8 years.
        
        OCTOBER SURPRISES:
        
        2020:
        
        New York Times published story claiming trump had only paid $750 in taxes in 2016 and was over $400mill in debt by 2017. The president then contracted covid requiring several days of hospitalisation.
        
        biggest surprises arguably came after the election as trump refused to accept the final result which led to the violent attack on the us capitol by his supporters in jan 2021.