Paul S. Herrnson

Frederick G. Conrad

Benjamin B. Bederson

Richard G. Niemi

Michael W. Traugott

Michael J. Hanmer

Voting difficulties hung over America's presidential election in 2000 like a dark cloud. Hanging chads, a butterfly ballot, and the Supreme Court remain the most vivid memories of that political donnybrook. Passage of 2002's Help America Vote Act sparked further interest in the physical process of casting a ballot, yet several recent contests still produced confusion at the polls. A solution to at least some of those problems may be found in new technology, but such innovations carry their own concerns and questions. V oting Technology is the first book to investigate in a scientific and authoritative manner how voters respond to the new equipment. The authors—an interdisciplinary group of experts in American elections, political behavior, human-computer interaction, and human factors psychology—assess five commercially available voting systems, each one representing a specific class based on shared design principles, as well as a prototype system not currently available. They evaluate the systems against different criteria (including ease of use, speed, and accuracy) using field experiments, laboratory experiments, and expert reviews. The results reveal the good and bad about the new systems, including specific features that contribute to clarity, confusion, or error. Going beyond the concern with spoiled ballots, they determine whether voters actually cast their ballots for the candidates they intended to support. They address fundamental questions of whether voters like and trust the equipment and whether the various systems are equally usable by all voters. Their research also opens up an entirely new line of inquiry by asking about the interaction between ballot format and voter behavior. The concluding chapter pulls together best practices that will guide manufacturers of voting systems, ballot designers, election officials, political observers, and of course, voters. In a political system based on free exercise of personal choice, the least we can do is make sure our choices are being accurately recorded and counted.

The Not-So-Simple Act of Casting a Ballot

Voting Technology

Clyde Wilcox

Robert Biersack

By 1990, there were over 4000 Political Action Committees (PACs) active and visible in the USA. This study covers various perspectives of PACs - size, contribution strategies, access to Washington information networks and issues - by means of diverse case studies.

PAC Decision Making and Strategy

Risky Business: PAC Decision Making and Strategy

Colton C. Campbell

David A. Dulio

"This book provides a glimpse into the professional lives of members of Congress and the staff, political consultants, and others who work beneath the Capitol's iconic dome. It shows some of the historic challenges, daily trials and tribulations, and public and private triumphs and failures that define working life on the Hill. Original chapters by practitioners who have been there offer a fresh understanding of congressional elections, policy making, and party leadership, as well as landmark institutional developments such as the growing influence of women and minorities in the legislative process. Each author brings a personal knowledge of Congress, providing a unique insight into the opaque world of committee assignments, the hustle and bustle of floor activity, the cross-examination of committee testimony, and the beehive of activity in a member's Washington or district office. Collectively, they provide keen insights into the institutions, procedures, and politics that shape congressional policymaking. Additionally, the historic two impeachments of President Donald J. Trump are examined to showcase some of the extraordinary politics taking place on Capitol Hill. Aimed at anyone working in Congress or wanting to influence public policy, this book is also an excellent classroom supplement for political science courses at every level and a compelling read for citizens who want to understand how Congress works and why it sometimes doesn't"--

Congress from the Inside

Under the Iron Dome

This book provides a glimpse into the professional lives of members of Congress and the staff, political consultants, and others who work beneath the Capitol’s iconic dome. It shows some of the historic challenges, daily trials and tribulations, and public and private triumphs and failures that defi ne working life on the Hill. Original chapters by practitioners who have been there off er a fresh understanding of congressional elections, policy making, and party leadership, as well as landmark institutional developments, such as the growing influence of women and minorities in the legislative process. Each author brings a personal knowledge of Congress, providing unique insight into the opaque world of committee assignments, the hustle and bustle of fl oor activity, the cross- examination of committee testimony, and the beehive of activity in a member’s Washington or district offi ce, or committee’s office. Collectively, they provide keen insights into the institutions, procedures, and politics that shape congressional policy making. Additionally, the historic two impeachments of then- President Donald J. Trump are examined to showcase some of the extraordinary politics taking place on Capitol Hill. Aimed at anyone working in Congress or wanting to infl uence public policy, this book is also an excellent classroom supplement for political science courses at every level and a compelling read for citizens who want to understand how Congress works and why it sometimes does not.

Presents a study of how political action committees (PACs) participated in the 1992 congressional election--an election heavily influenced by redistricting, incumbent retirements, and voter hostility toward Congress. Eighteen scholars participated in the study by conducting research on one or more PACs, following the committees from the early stages of the election cycle through the final days of the campaign. For students, scholars, and political practitioners. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Paul S. Herrnson

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