Campaigns and elections What everyone needs to know®

Elections in the United States are an important component of the function of our democracy, providing voters with the opportunity to indicate which candidates they prefer and what policies they would like to see implemented. The purpose of this book is to educate readers about the significance and implications of those elections. Presented in question-and-answer format, it contains 126 short articles (ranging from two paragraphs to two pages in length) that have been grouped into ten broad chapters. Those chapters cover voting, redistricting, political parties, campaign financing, ballot initiatives, how campaigns have changed, threats to democracy, and more. The author uses both historical and current examples, with frequent references to the 2016 and 2018 elections. While the format often requires the reader to jump around in the book to follow some topics, the questions are relevant and the answers are quite readable. From super PACs and the Electoral College to gerrymandering and voter suppression, this book will help readers understand how American elections work and what can be done to keep them fair and representative.--David Tyckoson Copyright 2020 Booklist