CFU #7: Voting & Voting Behavior

Senator Hoffman is campaigning for reelection in her state. Her campaign message emphasizes how the policies she has supported have benefited her constituents. She has spotlighted job creation and an overall improvement in the standard of living in the state in the past six years. Senator Hoffman is hoping to appeal to which of the following voting behavior models?

• Retrospective voting

• prospective voting

• straight ticket voting

• rational-choice voting

Answer explanation

The scenario describes a candidate promoting what she has done in the recent past to help win reelection.

Which of the following scenarios best represents an example of straight ticket voting?

• A citizen always votes for the candidate who supports conservation of the environment.

  
  

• A homeowner votes for a candidate based on the candidate’s promise to lower property taxes.

• A citizen casts votes for all Republicans based solely on the candidates’ affiliation with the Republican Party.

• A citizen votes for the incumbent member of the House of Representatives after receiving help processing his disability claim.

Answer explanation

Straight ticket voting entails voting for candidates based on party affiliation with less consideration of other information about the individuals running for office.

Which of the following scenarios is most related to the Twenty-Sixth Amendment?

• A primary election is held to determine the candidate who will run as the Republican for the United States Senate.

• An interest group purchases a television ad prior to an election.

• An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election.

• A woman votes in a local election.

Which of the following statements can best be supported by the survey data displayed in the bar graphs?

• Democrats with a high level of political efficacy are the most likely group to trust government most of the time.

• Democrats with a high level of political efficacy are the most likely group to be angry with government.

• Republicans with a low level of political efficacy are the most likely group to say that government often does a better job than given credit for.

• Republicans with a low level of political efficacy are the most likely group to say that government needs major reforms.

Answer explanation

Republicans who have a low level of political efficacy are most likely to say that the government needs major reforms.

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the graphs?

• Political efficacy is a major factor in shaping political views about government, but political ideology also plays a role.

• Regardless of party, there is a great deal of ideological agreement about the role of government among those with greater political efficacy.

• While trust in government has declined over time, this is due to a decrease in political efficacy.

• Republicans promote trust in government, which increases political efficacy.

Answer explanation

The chart indicates that political efficacy plays a major role in shaping views on government, but so does political ideology. Democrats are more likely to believe that they have a positive influence on government and that the government has the potential to do good, while Republicans are more likely to believe the opposite.

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data in the graphs?

• Those with greater political efficacy are Republicans; as a result, they hold more conservative views on how the government needs to be reformed.

• Those with greater political efficacy have a more positive view of government; as a result, they are more likely to vote in elections.

• Those who are angry with government are more likely to be Republicans and vote in elections.

• Those who know more about government and politics tend to be more skeptical of both.

Answer explanation

The data show that those with greater political efficacy have a more positive view of government, and, those with greater efficacy are more likely to engage in political participation, such as voting.