Aaron Weinschenk

Local political institutions and electoral context influence levels of campaign spending in mayoral elections

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Campaign spending is a perennial concern in both national and local elections, especially since the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling. Proponents argue that more spending increases interest in elections, while detractors claim that it creates biases in representation and public policy. Using an original dataset, Aaron C. Weinschenk examines campaign spending levels in mayoral elections, finding that the electoral […]

December 23rd, 2013|Aaron Weinschenk, Elections and party politics across the US|0 Comments|
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A sense of civic duty is influenced by deeply rooted personality traits

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Voter turnout is a perennial concern for political scientists and politicians alike. Even with extensive campaigns to “get out the vote,” turnout for most elections lingers around half of the eligible population. Aaron C. Weinschenk examines the idea that the propensity to vote is influenced by deeply rooted personality traits that cultivate a sense of civic duty. He finds that […]

December 10th, 2013|Aaron Weinschenk, Democracy and culture, Elections and party politics across the US|1 Comment|
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    Policies aimed at increasing electoral competition and campaign spending would help address low levels of voter turnout in city elections.

Policies aimed at increasing electoral competition and campaign spending would help address low levels of voter turnout in city elections.

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In recent years commentators have become increasingly concerned with declining election turnout across the US. The trend is nowhere more pronounced than in city mayoral elections, where turnout is frequently as low as 25 per cent. Looking at 340 mayoral elections, Aaron C. Weinschenk finds that turnout could be increased through increased electoral competition, and holding votes on the same […]

September 10th, 2013|Aaron Weinschenk, Democracy and culture, Elections and party politics across the US, Uncategorized|5 Comments|
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