ABSTRACT
This chapter examines continuity and change in election rules. Rules governing the conduct of elections are fundamental to democratic institutions, and much can be learned from studying how, and when, electoral institutions change. Continuity may be the norm, but instances of change (or reform) allow us the possibility of examining how (or if ) new rules might create different outcomes. We begin with a discussion of how, and when, electoral reform might occur. We then briefly consider the effects which three major changes in electoral rules may have had on voter behavior and attitudes-the adoption of legislative term limits, the introduction of direct democracy, and the adoption of proportional representation-in order to assess if these reforms have lived up to some of the expectations set by their proponents.
