The 2016 and 2018 elections are over, but looking ahead to the 2019-2020 election cycle, the debate over the fairness and accuracy of our electoral process has never been more contentious. Hacking, fake news, a "rigged system," voter ID challenges, Super PACs, and an Electoral College defying the popular vote count all lead to a common question and concern: Is this any way to run a democratic election?
New to the Seventh Edition:
- New data and timely illustrations from the 2016 and 2018 elections, looking ahead to 2020 election.
- The growing importance of social media (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter) and its impact, good and bad, on recent campaigns.
- Foreign interference in the 2016 and 2018 national elections.
- The integrity of campaign communications-hacking, rumoring, instantaneous news, and the effect of fact-checking.
- Money: the role of Super PACs and billionaire donors; the impact of campaign spending on the candidates and on election outcomes.
- New connections between the "Did you know that" chapter introductions to the exercises at the end.
- More online references in the suggested readings.