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POLS 417: Voting and Elections
Washington State University, Fall 2017
Tuesday, Thursday, 10:35-11:50, Todd 302
Instructor: Dr. Travis Ridout
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
509-335-2264
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m., and by appointment
816 Johnson Tower
Introduction
In a democracy, elections serve as the vital link between the people and those who govern them.
During a campaign, candidates are forced to defend their performance in office and proposals for
the future. And voters pass judgment on the performance of office-holders
—
and on how much
they like their ideas for the future.
In this course, we will study voters and candidates and the two processes that link them:
campaigns and elections. This is a course in which we will examine a variety of scholarly
research about the behavior of voters and candidates. It is not a course in political management
(i.e., how to run a campaign). That said, I will bring many examples of contemporary electoral
politics into the classroom
—
enough to satisfy most political junkies.
This course will focus on
elections in the United States, though I will provide examples from other countries.
Moreover,
we will spend some time learning about electoral systems used around the world.
Readings
There are three books available for purchase or rent:
Sides, John, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman and Keena Lipsitz.
2015.
Campaigns & Elections:
Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice.
2nd Edition.
W.W. Norton.
ISBN: 978-0-393-93852-4
Asher, Herbert.
2010.
Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know.
8th edition.
CQ Press.
ISBN: 978-1604266061
Mutch, Robert.
2016.
Campaign Finance: What Everyone Needs To Know.
Oxford University
Press.
ISBN: 978-0190274689
Grading
There are 1000 points available for this course.
Your final grade in this course will depend on
your success in four areas:
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