Challenging U.S Elections

According to US election: voters are less divided than often thought on major issues – new research- July 29, 2024, Paul Hanel, Lukas J.Wolf, theconversation.com

Hargreaves Lansdown

Mark Makela/Getty Images

Challenging the American electoral system: the gradual disappearance of political dissension between voters of opposing major political parties

Key words

→ Division: the perceived gap between Republican and Democratic voters.→ Perception: the way voters see or interpret differences between the parties.→ Values: the fundamental beliefs or principles that voters prioritize.→ Similarities: the common ground shared between Republican and Democratic voters.→ Hope: the feeling of optimism about bridging the political divide.

Vocabulary

→ Overblown perceptions: inflated, exaggerated perceptions.→ Cohesive: unified, integrated, consistent.→ Misperceptions: misunderstandings, misconceptions, false impressions.→ Deadlock: stalemate, gridlock, impasse.→Thwarting: obstructing, hindering, stifling.

I. A complex electoral system.II. Amplified by a historical rivalry between two parties.III. BUT opposition now lies more with the candidates than with the voters.

Why do U.S. elections remain complex in their organization at a time when voters from opposing parties increasingly share the same views?

GEORGIA

Derived from U.S. government records.

I. A Complex Electoral System

thecollector.com

Newt Gingrich

Abraham Lincoln by William F. Cogswell, 1869

II. Amplified by a Historical Rivalry Between Two Parties

edition.cnn.com - Bernie Sanders.

III. But Opposition Now Lies More with the Candidates than with the Voters.

• The positive thing ==> the tendency takes the side of de-escalation of division toward voters / We can still dream of a constitutionnal reform of electoral college.

• The increasing gap that has developed since the beginning of the 1990’s showed the importance of the media in the political division process.

• The big threat I can take out from this process:

==> the impartiality of journalists and media in politics.

Personal conclusion

⇒ How do you think the media contributes to the perception of division between Republicans and Democrats?⇒ In what ways can voters influence candidates to reflect more of their shared values rather than focusing on divisions?⇒ Do you believe that removing the electoral college is a viable solution to achieve a more democratic American society?

Conclusions (journalist's one, open questions & personal)