Comment: The American Electoral Universe: Speculation and Evidence

Abstract

In the last two decades the empirical approach to political science has been heavily preoccupied with the study of contemporary voting behavior. Few have been sufficiently curious about or motivated by the mysteries of our electoral past to sustain a concentrated research effort in this direction. Yet, as V. O. Key often noted, a knowledge of our electoral past provides us with a better understanding of our electoral present, with how our current system has evolved and changed over time. Only recently have scholars begun to heed the call of Key and new historians like Lee Benson and Samuel P. Hays for an empirical analysis of historical voting behavior. The initial research efforts, although often crude and unsystematic in method, have prompted interesting speculation as to “divergences” in our thinking from what previously had been assumed about past electorates. They have discovered “anomalies” in several different contexts—in earlier unconfirmed theories of voting behavior, in data-oriented contemporary work on the American voter, and even among the various historical research efforts themselves. While the presence of such anomalies characterizes the first stages of any research effort in virgin territory, unraveling the apparent inconsistencies must always be part of the process of a more fully developed cumulative research program. What is the task of the moment is to examine these anomalies in light of the theories and research of Professors Burnham, Converse, and myself—the principal elements in this continuing dialogue about the proper interpretation of our electoral past.

A Reevaluation of Realignments in American Politics: Evidence from the House of Representatives

“…These results point to differences between the nineteenth-century realignments and the New Deal realignment. This difference has been noted by other scholars (Burnham, 1970(Burnham, , 1974Converse, 1974;Rusk, 1970Rusk, , 1974. Burnham's (1970) thesis attempts to account for these differences by claiming that the nineteenth century was a different political universe in which voter interest and participation were high.…”

Class Voting in Capitalist Democracies Since World War II: Dealignment, Realignment, or Trendless Fluctuation?

“…Focusing on the institutional sources of nonvoting, macrolevel approaches offer very different understandings of the exceptional ism of US turnout. 11, Kelley et al 1967, Converse 1974, Rusk 1974 Cunningham .199 1). 4): those that emphasize changes in the party system after 1896, in particular declining party competition (Kleppner 1982, Burnham 1982, and those emphasizing the imposition of restrictive registration rules (Campbell et al 1960: Ch.…”

Illicit Tactics as Substitutes

“…In line with Converse (1972), Rusk (1974), and Heckelman (2000), the Australian ballot seems to have constrained the market for votes and the practice of voter intimidation and violence in the American electorate. In line with Converse (1972), Rusk (1974), and Heckelman (2000), the Australian ballot seems to have constrained the market for votes and the practice of voter intimidation and violence in the American electorate.…”

“…We must distinguish election fraud, which is "a plot to overturn election results," from nonintentional irregularities (Lehoucq & Molina, 2002, p. 17). Although the exact extent and nature of such fraud in the American case remains disputed historically (Allen & Allen, 1981;Argersinger, 1985;Burnham, 1974;Campbell, 2003Campbell, , 2005Converse, 1972;Cox & Kousser, 1981;Gist, 1961;Jensen, 1971;Keyssar, 2000;Mayfield, 1993;Reynolds, 1980Reynolds, , 1993Rusk, 1974;Summers, 2001), according to most observers, the turn of the last century marked the heyday of electoral manipulation (Allen & Allen, 1981;Harris, 1934;Sikes, 1928). Although the exact extent and nature of such fraud in the American case remains disputed historically (Allen & Allen, 1981;Argersinger, 1985;Burnham, 1974;Campbell, 2003Campbell, , 2005Converse, 1972;Cox & Kousser, 1981;Gist, 1961;Jensen, 1971;Keyssar, 2000;Mayfield, 1993;Reynolds, 1980Reynolds, , 1993Rusk, 1974;Summers, 2001), according to most observers, the turn of the last century marked the heyday of electoral manipulation (Allen & Allen, 1981;Harris, 1934;Sikes, 1928).…”

“…This is most explicitly argued by Converse (1972) and Rusk (1974), who assume that the market for votes as well as intimidation of the individual voter was abandoned as parties no longer could observe and monitor the voters' actions (also see Heckelman, 2000;cf. This is most explicitly argued by Converse (1972) and Rusk (1974), who assume that the market for votes as well as intimidation of the individual voter was abandoned as parties no longer could observe and monitor the voters' actions (also see Heckelman, 2000;cf.…”