3. Clicker Question
The “Calculus of Voting” suggests that
people will only vote if the ___________
outweigh the __________.
a. Democrats, Republicans
b. Issues, Laziness
c. Benefits, Costs
d. Costs, Benefits
4. Clicker Question
Except in rare occasions, boundaries for
congressional and state legislative
districts in the United States are redrawn
by the states every _______ years.
a. two
b. ten
c. twenty
d. twenty-five
5. Reapportionment and Redistricting
Reapportionment – Every 10 years the census is used to
tell us where people have moved (within and across
states).
Redistricting – Usually, in response to reapportionment
(but not always), states redraw district lines so that
their districts achieve basic equality.
Gerrymandering – Redistricting with PURPOSE.
Partisan and Incumbent usually OKAY, racial is a NO.
Shaw v. Reno, 1993 – Districts based exclusively on
racial criteria are unlawful.
7. Gerrymandering Techniques
• Packing: Places the opposing party's voters in the
fewest possible districts, to minimize their influence
on other districts
• Cracking: Spreading voters of one type over many
districts where they will comprise minorities that are
unable to influence elections.
• Hijacking: Separating an incumbent candidate from
his constituents and placing him or her in a district
where he or she has no name recognition.
• Kidnapping: Drawing two incumbent candidates into
the same district so they must run against each other.
8. Cracking and Packing
Fig. 1 creates 4 Fig. 2 represents an Fig. 3 portrays an Fig. 4 portrays an
competitive incumbent protection extreme example of example of
districts, where or "sweetheart" packing, where a cracking, where
there are an equal gerrymandering single district is voters have been
number of voters plan, in which district composed solely divided among a
from each party in boundaries are draw to of RED voters, thro number of
every district. split the number of wing the advantage districts, so that
seats evenly between to the BLUE party in the RED party holds
the parties and to the remaining three a 9-7 advantage in
insure a strongly districts. three districts
partisan voting base in and BLUE wins just
every district. a single district
11. Hijacking
2005 – Georgia’s 12th District
John Barrow
was drawn out
of his district
And placed in
the 10th D
but moved back
to the 12th and
won anyway.
12. Kidnapping
Georgia’s 7th and 11th Districts
Bob Barr and
John Linder
were placed in
the same
district…had to
face off in the
Republican
primary.
13. Redistricting in Georgia
2000 – Census gives GA +2 districts
Democratic controlled Assembly map
11th was an attempt to create a majority-
minority district
2002 – Republicans win control of Gen. Assembly
Argue that 2001 map splits too many
communities/counties; creates districts that
are irregularly shaped; too partisan in nature
2005 – New Map…
19. Campaigns - Median Voter Theory
• Rather than differentiate
themselves, there are clear incentives
for candidates to “go to the middle”
because that’s where the voters are.
• Electoral competition drives parties
together…
• So, the reason candidates appear to be
so centrist is because they are both
competing for “Bob’s” vote in order to
win.
21. How Do Voters Decide?
Social Characteristics –
SES, Religion, Ethnicity
Party Loyalties – Strength of Partisan
Identification
Candidates –
experience, decisiveness, personal
warmth, etc.
Issues
The Economy – Bush I vs. Clinton
(“It’s the Economy Stupid”)
Foreign Policy – Wars, International
Crises
The urban (and mostly liberal) concentration of Columbus, Ohio, located at the center of the map in Franklin County, is split into thirds, each segment then attached to—and outnumbered by—largely conservative suburbs.
Bob Barr and John Linder were placed in the same district…had to face off in the Republican primary.
Freshman U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Athens is placed in a newly drawn 10th District with longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood of suburban Augusta, and Rep. Jim Marshall, a Macon Democrat, will have a much different district with fewer black voters, a traditional gauge of Democratic strength. John Barrow – New 10th but still thereJim Marshall – 3rd to 8th but still thereThese 2 Democrats voted AGAINST the Health Care Bill
