ABSTRACT
In the United States, citizens are presented with the opportunity to go to thepolls at frequent and fixed intervals to elect at national, state, and local levelsa host of legislators, executive heads, councilpersons, officials, and even, in some states, judges. Before polling day, the citizen is faced with a lengthy election campaign: There are primary campaigns, the primary elections, the general election campaign, and the general election itself. The presidential election campaign lasts for nearly a year; with all the preplanning, advance publicity, and fund-raising, it lasts for much longer. Given the short interval between elections, campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives are virtually continuous. Candidates spend much of their time raising funds to fight the next election. In financial terms, elections are big business. Once in the polling booth, the voter is faced with a daunting array of candidates: Given the number of offices to be filled and the number of people seeking to fill them, the number of names may be a three-figure one. Voting and its subsequent tabulation are much eased by the use of voting machines. With more than one office usually to be filled in an election, voters can-and do-split their tickets between parties. Once elected, there is a gap of over two months before officeholders take up their posts.
