Introduction
Voting is a vital part of the democratic process; it is essential to understand the different types of voting and what influences voter decisions to make an informed decision. Retrospective voting is when voters judge candidates based on their past performance and current policies, while prospective voting is when voters make decisions based on their predictions of how the candidate will perform.
Retrospective vs. Prospective Voting
When deciding how to cast their ballot, many voters choose to be retrospective in their voting decision. It allows voters to evaluate the incumbent’s arrangement and make an advised conclusion based on their past actions. Voters may also assess the policies of the current officeholder and their ability to address the issues that are important to them. This type of voting is often seen as a “reward” or “punishment” for the incumbent, depending on the performance of their policies.
Important Valence and Positional Issues
Valence issues, such as the economy, public safety, and education, are largely non-ideological. These issues are important to many voters and often influence their voting decisions. Positional issues, on the other hand, are issues that are ideological, such as abortion, taxation, and gun control (Benedictis-Kessner and Warshaw). These issues are often more divisive, and voters may be likely to vote based on their beliefs.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Office Incumbency
Being an office incumbent in Washington, D.C., has advantages and disadvantages. One of the main advantages is that incumbents are often better funded and thus have the resources to reach more potential voters. Additionally, incumbents are often experienced in navigating the political system and have a better understanding of how to get things done in Washington. On the other hand, incumbents may be seen as too entrenched in the system and may have difficulty appealing to voters looking for a change.
Congressional vs. Presidential Election Outcomes for Incumbents
Regarding election outcomes, congressional incumbents are more likely to win than presidential incumbents. This is because congressional districts are smaller, and voters are more likely to know the incumbent’s record. Additionally, congressional incumbents are often better funded and have more name recognition in their districts (Benedictis-Kessner and Warshaw). Presidential incumbents, on the other hand, typically face a much larger pool of voters and have less name recognition.
Conclusion
To sum up, retroactive voting is the most popular kind in the US. Additionally, voters take positional and valence factors into account while making decisions. There are advantages and disadvantages to holding office in Washington, D.C., and incumbents in Congress have a higher chance of winning than incumbents in the White House.Â
Work Cited
De Benedictis-Kessner, Justin, and Christopher Warshaw. “Accountability for the Local Economy at All Levels of Government in United States Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 114, no. 3, Cambridge UP, 2020, pp. 660–76.