List of figures and tables | p. x |
Preface | p. xi |
Acknowledgments | p. xiii |
Creating a model electoral democracy | p. 1 |
Criteria for a model electoral democracy | p. 2 |
A few comments | p. 5 |
Overview of the book | p. 6 |
Rethinking the costs of voting | p. 9 |
Factors that influence voter turnout | p. 11 |
"Didn't we just vote?" | p. 11 |
Other barriers to voting | p. 16 |
The offices we elect | p. 26 |
Do we really need to vote for coroner? | p. 27 |
The case of judicial elections | p. 29 |
Direct democracy | p. 44 |
What is the initiative process and how does it work? | p. 45 |
Some misconceptions about the initiative process | p. 47 |
Why the public supports the initiative proces | p. 54 |
The problems with the initiative process | p. 57 |
Some potential reforms | p. 60 |
Recall elections | p. 61 |
Rethinking the mechanics of voting | p. 65 |
Ballot laws | p. 67 |
Getting on the ballot | p. 67 |
Candidate information on the ballot | p. 71 |
The order of candidates' names on the ballot | p. 75 |
Ballot design | p. 77 |
Voting machines | p. 80 |
Different types of voting machines | p. 81 |
The problem with punch card ballots | p. 82 |
The pros and cons of the remaining contenders | p. 83 |
A word on Internet voting | p. 89 |
So, what's the solution? | p. 92 |
Rethinking national elections | p. 95 |
The redistricting process | p. 97 |
How does the process work? | p. 98 |
The goals of redistricting | p. 99 |
What should be the goals of redistricting? | p. 108 |
What process best achieves the goals of redistricting? | p. 113 |
Presidential primaries | p. 116 |
King Caucus and the smoke-filled rooms | p. 117 |
Reforms to the presidential primary process | p. 118 |
The Electoral College | p. 133 |
What is the Electoral College? Why do we have it? | p. 133 |
Arguments in favor of the Electoral College and why they are flawed | p. 136 |
The reasons for change | p. 140 |
Attempts to reform the Electoral College | p. 142 |
The future of the Electoral College | p. 147 |
Campaign finance | p. 151 |
A brief history of campaign finance reform | p. 152 |
The concerns of campaign finance reformers | p. 157 |
The favorite solution: publicly financed elections | p. 160 |
A controversial solution | p. 163 |
Conclusion: Moving toward a model electoral democracy | p. 171 |
Revisiting the criteria for a model electoral democracy | p. 171 |
Other improvements to American electoral democracy | p. 175 |
The prospects for reform | p. 177 |
Notes | p. 179 |
Bibliography | p. 201 |
Court cases | p. 219 |
Index | p. 221 |
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