Articles tagged with Elections
Researchers found that groups using multivoting proved more effective in identifying the best choice, with 50% higher accuracy than plurality and ranked-choice voting. Multivoting allows individuals to allocate votes across options, promoting deeper information processing before discussion.
A new study found that the expiration of monthly Child Tax Credit payments led to a 25% increase in food insufficiency among US households with children. The loss of cash relief benefits disproportionately impacted Black, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant families, exacerbating racial and economic inequities.
A new study by University of Arkansas professors Janine Parry and Andrew Dowdle documents the resurgence of one-party monopolies in American states. Most states have heavily favored one of the two major parties for at least a century, with some experiencing dramatic shifts in party affiliation over time.
A new study by Jean Lacroix found that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 halved instances of actual political violence and reduced the likelihood of new waves of violence. In counties covered by the act, citizens voted to voice their views, leading to a change in political strategies rather than policy changes.
A new report reveals that both Democrats and Republicans personally value core democratic principles, but severely underestimate opposing party members' support for those same characteristics. This biased underestimation leads to a willingness to subvert democratic principles, particularly among Republicans.
A new study by New York University found that YouTube's recommendation algorithm prioritized election-fraud-related videos for users already skeptical about the 2020 presidential election's legitimacy. This highlights the dangers of opaque algorithms perpetuating misinformation and disinformation.
A USC study of eligible voters in the 2020 election highlights how many Americans overlook external factors like child care constraints and transportation difficulties that affect voter turnout. In contrast, participants cited beliefs as a major driver of turnout, with only 12% mentioning friction.
A recent paper by Darren Grant found favoritism in order assignment in various contests, including Texas and West Virginia primary elections. The author applied statistical methods to detect this behavior, which was often overlooked despite its significant impact on outcomes.
The study analyzed 400 million voter records from 2014 and 2016 elections to find large and persistent gaps in voter turnout by race, age, and political affiliation. Minority citizens, young people, and Democrats are less likely to vote than whites, older citizens, and Republicans.
Researchers examine voting decisions when favored candidates commit moral transgressions, identifying key factors affecting support. Strong ideological identity and severity of transgression influence voter loyalty, with significant differences between conservatives and liberals.
A Japanese study reveals that policy disagreement and politicization led to the split of Japan's largest opposition party in 2017. The researchers found that traditional DIF analysis failed to capture the complexity of party positions, but a corrected version showed strong discord over defense policy.
A new study by Penn State researchers found no significant difference in fear of crime between people living in areas with high and low incarceration rates. Despite the US having the world's highest incarceration rate, the study suggests that mass incarceration policies may not have the desired effect on reducing crime fear.
In the 2020 US House of Representatives elections, Democrats supporting the Green New Deal saw a significant increase in their vote share. This study examined the electoral appeal of climate policies, specifically the Green New Deal, and found that it resonated with voters.
A recent study published by The BMJ found a significant widening gap in death rates between US counties that voted for Democratic and Republican candidates. Between 2001 and 2019, mortality rates decreased by 22% in Democratic counties but only 11% in Republican counties, with the gap increasing sixfold.
A new study finds a significant increase in mortality rates among white Americans living in Republican counties compared to Democratic counties, largely driven by slower mortality improvements. The 'mortality gap' was found to be consistent across various disease areas and expanded during the study period.
Researchers found that anticipating future stress related to elections can affect people's emotional well-being before anything has happened. Education was shown to help protect individuals against these stresses, even for those actively engaged in the political process.
A study by the University of Washington found that Seattle's democracy voucher program increased donations by 53% per race and boosted small donations by 270%. The program also led to an 86% increase in candidates and a decline in incumbent electoral success.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that negative partisanship - the perception that Democrats or Republicans are driven by hatred for their opponents - is exaggerated. In fact, research found that people's primary motivations for choosing a party are more strongly tied to love for their own party.
A new study by New York University researchers found that individuals with certainty about the future of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to disregard medical expertise and adhere to conspiracy theories. Similar findings were observed in relation to the 2020 presidential election, where those certain about their candidate's win w...
Research from the University of California San Diego finds a significant partisan shift in birth rates among Republicans and Democrats after Trump's 2016 election. Republican-leaning counties experienced a sharp rise in birth rates, while Democratic counties saw a baby slump, with differences amounting to 1-2% of national birth rates.
A study of nearly 6.4 million adults found a significant association between the 2020 US presidential election and acute cardiovascular disease hospitalizations. The research suggests that the stress and anxiety caused by the election may have triggered increased hospitalizations for cardiovascular conditions.
A new study reveals that individuals use covert online signals to convey their political identity, especially in mixed groups. This allows them to communicate without risking negative reactions from those who disagree. The research found that people prefer overt signals in homogeneous groups.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania found that increased awareness of discrimination against Black Americans during the BLM protests led to a significant shift in voter preferences towards Democrat Joe Biden. However, concerns about COVID-19 had little effect on vote choice.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that US journalists' tweets from the 2016 campaign trail employed more emotive and informal language compared to traditional news articles. This reliance on intuition and past anchoring biases suggests a cognitive bias in word choices.
New research reveals a record high number of election litigation cases in 2020, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and unsuccessful post-election lawsuits. The trend is expected to continue as the 2022 midterms approach, with leading experts warning that minimizing meritorious litigation may deprive some litigants of justice.
A study examined the association between county-level prescription rates of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin and voting patterns in the 2020 US presidential election. The analysis found a statistically significant correlation between higher prescription rates and Republican vote shares.
A study by Washington University in St. Louis found that slant and consistency of messages in national television ads significantly impact online word-of-mouth chatter and candidate preference. Consistency with the primary message is crucial, even for more partisan messages, suggesting that campaign strategies should focus on building ...
Research finds climate extremes contribute to increased environmental concern and support for Green parties across Europe, with regional differences affecting responses. Economic and demographic factors also play a role in shaping public attitudes towards climate change.
A new study by the University of Birmingham finds that employment fears and precarity are driving the rise of popular extremist parties across Europe. The 'precariat' – disaffected citizens feeling insecure about their jobs – is voting for radical populist parties on both the right and left.
A study by MIT scholars found that voting by incarcerated people in Maine and Vermont has significantly lower turnout rates compared to the general population. The researchers suggest that reinstating voting rights for this population may not yield a significant number of new voters, highlighting the challenges of disenfranchisement.
A recent study published in the journal Risk Analysis found that increased voting by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic did not jeopardize election safety. The research analyzed potential risks identified in a mail voting attack tree and concluded that expanding mail voting increases voter access and reduces adversarial interference.
Research led by Binghamton University faculty suggests that party polarization precedes voter polarization in countries outside the US. The study of 19 democracies from 1971 to 2019 found that more engaged and informed citizens follow parties' lead on political issues.
Research from University of Nebraska–Lincoln found that 40% of Americans blame politics for causing stress and an estimated 50-85 million people experience fatigue, anger, and compulsive behaviors due to politics. The results remained mostly stable after nearly four years, suggesting a potential health crisis.
A new study finds that 'hawkish' politicians who adopt tough policies to re-elect themselves often inflame global conflicts. Researchers modelled a land dispute scenario and found that voters favoring ideology over ability tend to support hawkish leaders, leading to tougher settlements and increased conflict probability.
A new study investigated changes in physicians' voting behavior between 2000-2020 using nationally representative data. Physicians were found to be growing more engaged in the political process, particularly through voting, with higher turnout in states allowing no-excuse mail-in voting.
A study by Dr. Felix Hagemeister found a significant link between right-wing populist party victories and an increase in far-right protests, particularly in areas with relatively liberal attitudes.
A team of political scientists argues that a self-enforcing democracy requires parties to refrain from exploiting electoral rules, citing fear of retaliation and partisan sorting. The study highlights the threat of gerrymandering and voter suppression to democratic representation.
A computational analysis of billions of tweets has uncovered high-resolution timelines of the major stories surrounding Trump's presidency from 2016 to 2021. The study found that turbulence in these stories varied over time, with dominant narratives emerging for longer periods during certain periods.
A study found that Republicans who consumed and trusted Fox News less had more faith in the electoral process, while Democrats grew more confident as evidence of Biden's win accumulated. Cognitive dissonance theory explains how Fox News rationalized the outcome for Republicans, leading to decreased confidence in vote legitimacy.
New Cornell University research suggests that social connections can distort voting behavior, favoring minority candidates. The study found that complacency and dejectedness – conditions caused by social connections – can skew election outcomes.
Historical state-level analysis finds that increased party competition leads to higher spending on infrastructure, human capital, literacy, earnings, and longevity. States with more party competition tend to have lower infant mortality, higher life expectancy, and greater social well-being.
Researchers find that right-wing parties in Brazil successfully employ descriptive representation to connect with poor voters, nominating less educated candidates. However, they also face challenges due to the unavailability of less educated candidates and potential voter backlash against less capable politicians.
During the 2020 US presidential election, researchers collected data on over 1 million online political ads. The study found that these ads often used manipulative tactics to collect personal information, including fake polls and click-bait headlines. More than 56,000 of these ads were found on conservative-leaning websites.
A team of researchers led by Maurizio Porfiri found that counties with fewer COVID-19 cases voted more for Joe Biden than Donald Trump. The study used a spatial data modeling approach to analyze county-level data and determine the influence of epidemiological and economic processes on voting behavior.
A study found that deforestation increases in election years, cancelling out conservation efforts and gains. The phenomenon affects regions with strict environmental regulation, highlighting the need for addressing opportunistic behaviors in natural resource management.
A new algorithmic approach predicts strong leaders by analyzing shared traits and attributes associated with effective leadership. The study identifies liberators and explorers as the most effective leaders, while media celebrities are seen as lacking in leadership qualities.
A new study by UC San Diego researchers finds that moving local elections to on-cycle races increases voter turnout and makes the electorate more representative of the population, particularly in terms of race, age, class, and partisanship. The study analyzed California elections over an eight-year period and found significant effects ...
Researchers found that candidates' pro-gun messages and NRA funding influence voters' evaluations, with racial resentment moderating the effects. Voters who own guns or are racially resentful were more likely to support candidates with similar views, while those low in racial resentment preferred pro-gun control candidates.
Researchers compared Fox News and MSNBC using natural language analysis, finding distinct linguistic styles in the two networks. The study analyzed over 283 million words in 52,000 transcripts, highlighting differences in pronoun use, analytic content, and noun use.
Researchers found that even a one-vote margin of control changed the policy agenda and outcomes, contrary to conventional wisdom. A 50/50 party balance in today's Senate could have significant implications for policy due to high polarization.
A team of computer scientists has developed an assembly selection process that balances representation and fairness in citizens' assemblies. By using a machine learning-based algorithm, the researchers ensure that all volunteers have an equal chance of being chosen, regardless of demographic quotas or education level.
A study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that voting restrictions are associated with an increased risk of being uninsured. The study analyzed data from 242,727 adults in the US and found that those who face barriers to voting are also less likely to have health insurance.
A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that political anger can lead to more anger in ordinary citizens. The study discovered that when people read about an enraged politician from their own party, they were more likely to report feeling mad themselves and get involved in politics. On the other hand, moderate v...
Financial hardship significantly affects voter turnout among the poor in Germany, resulting in a 5 percentage point drop in voting intentions and actual turnout. The study analyzed over 1,000 elections and found that short-term financial difficulties lead to increased stress and alienation from politics.
A recent study by Brigham Young University found that local governments formed in off-cycle years are less responsive to the majority's preferences and more responsive to organized interest groups. This can result in policies that benefit specific groups rather than the community as a whole.
Researchers at Bocconi University analyzed data from France and found that districts with larger gender pay gaps had fewer female candidates and lower votes for women. The study suggests that voters' biases against female politicians limit the effectiveness of quota rules in allocating female candidates to contested districts.
A new study finds that electoral districts with a larger gender pay gap tend to have fewer female candidates, as voters' biases against women candidates can lead to lower vote shares. The Parity Law has had limited impact in reducing this disparity, with parties strategically allocating female candidates to less competitive districts.
Researchers propose a new approach to predicting election outcomes and identifying social trends by analyzing people's perceptions of their friends' voting intentions. By asking about a person's social circle rather than individual beliefs, they can gather highly accurate information on emerging trends.
A UC Davis study analyzing 7 decades of election results shows women are just as likely to persist in politics after losing elections as men. Despite initial predictions of 'sore losers,' researchers found no significant differences in candidates' responses to losses by gender.
A recent study published in PNAS found that women who lose local or state elections are equally likely to run for office again as men. Despite prior research suggesting women may be more risk-averse, the study reveals no statistically distinguishable difference between genders in choosing to seek office after losses.