Articles tagged with Elections
A Brown University study finds that political polarization has increased most among demographic groups with low internet and social media use. The authors suggest that broader forces beyond the digital landscape may be driving the rise in partisanship.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health researcher Jacob Bor found that counties with lower life expectancy gains saw a significant increase in Republican votes, while Democrats lost votes in these areas. The findings suggest that voters' health needs may be driving their electoral decisions.
A new study in the American Economic Review found that viewers who stumble upon Fox News first while channel surfing are more likely to vote for a Republican presidential candidate. The study used voter records and survey data to compare individuals from different cable news channel positions, finding a significant association between ...
Research establishes first clear link between depression and hindsight bias, a distorted view of the past. People with depression show exaggerated perceptions of foreseeability and inevitability for negative event outcomes, reinforcing feelings of helplessness.
A study found that increases in state-level temperatures lead to higher voter turnout and votes for the incumbent party. For every 10C increase, voter turnout rises by 1.4%., The study also reveals a rise in temperature motivates citizens to vote for smaller parties while government popularity soars.
Researchers found a split between same words used by presidential candidates from different parties and what they mean, with semantic divide growing over time. This semantic shift can make dialogue difficult, if not impossible.
USC researchers found that disinformation campaign on MacronLeaks was mostly consumed by foreigners on social media, with 18% of promoters being bots. The campaign's impact on French voters appeared to be limited despite being tweeted nearly 350,000 times.
Researchers have used computer modeling to demonstrate the varying manipulability of decision-making procedures and identify those least susceptible to manipulation. Two majority relation-based procedures, Uncovered set II and Fishburn's rule, are found to be less manipulable than others.
A study of viral tweets during the final two months of the 2016 election race found that Clinton was heavily criticised on social media compared to Trump. The study, which analysed almost 3,500 posts, revealed a wide disparity between traditional media and social media, where Clinton was worse off.
Researchers at TUM have developed a mathematical method to calculate optimally sized voting districts, reducing the need for controversial redistricting processes. The methodology achieves optimal solutions with deviations below 15% from the average size of electoral districts, making it applicable to many countries.
A study published in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review found that people's names are associated with specific face shapes, influencing voting decisions. Candidates with congruent names received an average of 10 more percentage points in their elections than those with incongruent names.
A new article from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that the recent U.S. presidential election could lead to negative health impacts, particularly among marginalized groups. The study found a link between hostile attitudes towards racial and ethnic minorities and increased risk of disease and premature death.
A new report from Rice's Kinder Institute examines mayoral elections in 6 US states and reveals that approximately half of all mayoral elections feature only one candidate. Unopposed elections were particularly prevalent in small towns, where 79% of contests saw no competition, yet voter turnout remained high.
A new study finds that most Americans, including Democrats, do not believe voter ID laws suppress turnout, contradicting party leaders' claims. The findings highlight the disconnect between public opinion and partisan rhetoric on voter ID laws.
A Florida Atlantic University study found that blogs from the opposition had a significant impact on shifting political perceptions and electoral outcomes in Russia. Exposure to dissident content on Western social media platforms played a crucial role in fueling skepticism about electoral fraud.
Researchers found that simple 'single-show models' can have high predictive accuracy in predicting presidential election outcomes based on television viewership data. This approach may offer a more accurate predictive tool compared to poll-data-driven models.
Research from the University of Gothenburg finds a strong correlation between corruption and the electoral success of populist parties in European countries. Public services such as law enforcement, healthcare, and education are critical to people's confidence in public institutions and democracy.
A recent study found that Right-leaning politicians tend to be considered more attractive, whereas Left-leaning scholars are viewed as more physically appealing. This effect was observed despite similar factors such as age and education level between the two groups.
Despite recent reforms aimed at improving China's research institutions and innovation system, concerns remain about the autonomy of resulting committees and institutions. Favoritism among researchers, influenced by social connections, also poses a significant challenge in science policy.
Researchers analyzed TV debate transcripts to quantify dramatic differences in speaking styles among candidates. Donald Trump's style was characterized by simplicity, short sentences, and a reduced vocabulary, differing from other candidates' more complex communication methods.
A study at Aalto University aims to reduce societal polarization by connecting people with opposing views on Twitter. The algorithm suggests bridges between users of opposing sides, such as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, to provide recommendations about who to retweet.
A recent study published in Science found that polling data is a reliable predictor of election outcomes around the world. The research used global polling data to predict up to 90% of election outcomes, including 10 out of 11 elections in Latin America.
A new study by Northeastern University found that national election polls remain a strong indicator of election outcomes globally. The researchers' statistical models correctly predicted up to 90% of direct executive elections across the world.
This special issue of Science explores advances in forecasting policy, political violence, human behavior, and election predictions. Researchers unveil a modeling technique that can predict election outcomes with high accuracy, finding strong correlations between polling data and presidential election results.
While wait times varied between states, improvements were noted in South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, with Florida seeing "tremendous improvement". However, some states still have a long way to go before wait times are within acceptable limits, and disparities persist between black and white voters.
A recent study by Michigan State University researchers suggests that rising income inequality is the primary driver of satisfaction with democracy, not who wins elections. The study found a widening gap in satisfaction between electoral winners and losers as income inequality increases.
A recent study found that 19% of Twitter election-related tweets were created by social robots, distorting the online discussion and potentially polarizing it. The research also highlighted the sophisticated tactics used by 'master puppeteers' to create fake profiles and manipulate public opinion.
Research by Iowa State University professor Tessa Ditonto found that women candidates who are perceived as competent can win elections just like men. However, voters are more forgiving of men who appear incompetent. The study suggests that women should focus on their qualifications and policies to overcome gender stereotypes.
Researchers Philip Kortum and Michael D. Byrne examine how voting interface design affects voter behavior, revealing potential for errors and flawed designs. Poor interfaces can lead to ambiguous ballots, unintended vote selection, and nullified votes.
A Harvard University study predicts that climate change will lead to more frequent political party turnovers and increased focus on short-term policies, potentially hindering long-run climate mitigation strategies.
A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analysis found that Republican and Democratic voters have vastly different views on future health policy issues, influencing potential policy changes. The study suggests that party control will heavily impact future policies, including the Affordable Care Act.
A bipartisan probe into peer-review process and climate change research is chilling scientific pursuits, with over 2,000 scientists signing a letter urging an end to the probes. The investigation's scope has sparked concerns that it may protect oil companies and suppress science.
Researchers found that voters perceive enhanced security measures as more secure than systems with fake security elements. Participants also reported increased confidence in the voting system when it included robust security features.
Researchers propose a new model predicting voter choice that prioritizes identity over policy issues. This approach aims to improve election outcomes predictions by considering how voters' personal identities influence their voting decisions.
A new study finds that outside donors are playing a large role in school board elections, often supporting reform-minded candidates over those backed by teacher unions. This trend suggests that local democracy may be influenced by national education reform groups and wealthy donors with differing views on education policy.
A study found that potential voters view presidential candidates with high-intensity emotional language as more 'presidential' in dire economic conditions, while those who think the economy is fine prefer calmer language. Low-intensity language generally enhances perceptions of trustworthiness.
A new study finds that campaign visits have limited impact on voters, but consume significant resources. The study suggests that candidates should focus on other strategies, such as advertising and voter contact, to influence voters.
A new study finds that Republican and Democratic presidential candidates rarely respond to swing voters' views on key issues. Despite the importance of moderate middle ground in election campaigns, candidates typically take stances closer to those of their core supporters or extreme subsets of 'intense policy demanders'.
A new report by Advancement Project and the University of California, Riverside reveals stark racial disparities in political participation in California. The study finds that people of color make up the majority of the state's population but face significant barriers to engaging in democracy, including lower rates of voter turnout, co...
Research by Mirta Galesic and colleagues suggests that moderately-sized groups of experts can make wiser choices than larger crowds in qualitative decisions. Smaller groups, around five to seven members, are likely to outperform larger ones in situations such as medical diagnoses or election forecasts.
The next WHO director general must establish a well-coordinated system for preventing and responding to outbreaks, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and engage private sector foundations during public health emergencies. This is according to experts' analysis of key questions for prospective candidates.
Researchers found that US candidates' faces were more associated with competence, while those from Taiwan were linked to social competence. In the study, Taiwanese participants voted for candidates judged high in social competence and trustworthiness, whereas US participants preferred faces deemed competent.
A study published in Springer's journal Quantitative Marketing and Economics found that the Electoral College system increases advertising spending in typical presidential elections. The researchers modeled voters' decisions using a simple aggregate market share model and found that advertising would be spread more evenly across states...
A recent study by University of Georgia researchers found that national party division and divisive state primaries significantly impact general election outcomes. In the current election cycle, a divided Republican Party could lose up to 4.5% of the general election vote, compared to a unified party.
A new University of Michigan study finds that voting restrictions are actually increasing voter turnout among Democrats, who become angrier about the laws' impact on minority voters. The study reveals that media frames about voter ID laws trigger powerful emotions in Democrats, leading to increased participation.
A UMD-led team has solved the Colonel Blotto game theory scenario, a two-party conflict used to analyze election outcomes. The new algorithm can help political strategists and business leaders make better decisions by computing the best resource investment strategy for any competitor.
A study by the University of Sussex and Queen Mary University of London found that many supporters of main parties identify as more left-wing than they think, with a mismatch between subjective and objective measures. The research suggests that the UK's political center ground may be further to the left than previously thought.
A study found that politicians elected as heads of government face a higher risk of early death compared to runner-up candidates. In contrast, the general population in the UK has seen a 37% lower mortality rate over the past 65 years.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that elected leaders live 2.7 years less and face a 23% greater risk of death compared to runners-up. This suggests the stress of governing accelerates mortality for politicians.
Researchers Dr. Harold Clarke and Dr. Karl Ho are studying voter behavior in Hong Kong elections, examining attitudes toward electoral democracy and factors that influence voting decisions. The study aims to understand the impact of class, generation, immigration status, and political affinity on voters' choices.
A Baylor University study found that changing labor laws could lessen political participation by teachers and other public employees, traditionally a key group in Democratic Party conventions. The shift could affect the distribution of political power across society, including in the 2016 elections.
Researchers used TV viewing data from 99 programs with predictive accuracies over 59% and three that predicted outcomes above 79%. The model forecasts election outcomes at the state and county levels, providing insights into key drivers of election results. The study's findings suggest a potential application to future elections.
Researchers found that arguments based on a political opponent's moral principles have a better chance of success in winning them over. The study suggests using purity-based arguments can help bridge gaps between liberals and conservatives, increasing support for universal healthcare and same-sex marriage.
A Duke University study found that assigning public schools failing grades leads to increased turnout among affluent voters, but has little impact on low-income families. The research suggests that providing citizens with information about school performance does not necessarily address imbalances in civic engagement.
The study found that political marketing used hashtags and mentioned candidates by username, while citizens commented on news and gave opinions during debates. Citizens' conversations were more dismissive and influenced by campaign controversies.
University of Cincinnati researchers have developed a new method to measure the influence of Biblical interpretation on political attitudes, providing more nuanced insights into religion's impact on politics. The study found that respondents' opinions about biblical error were the strongest predictor of political conservatism.
A new study by Michigan State University researcher Arend Hintze found that moderate competition optimally drives the evolution of decision-making strategies in humans. In crowded areas, hermit crabs evolve split-second decision-making to claim new shells, demonstrating a similar phenomenon in human politics.
A University of Cincinnati study found that black voters are more likely to support black Democratic candidates, but may consider voting for a Republican candidate if they know the candidate's party affiliation. The study suggests that building a Republican coalition with black voters is challenging due to ongoing racial and partisan t...
A study by Indiana University doctoral student Adam Nicholson examined county-level voter turnout in Indiana and Nebraska/Pennsylvania without voter ID laws. Turnout declined in counties with high elderly populations, but the overall effect of the law on large numbers of voters remains uncertain.
Healthcare is a major responsibility of Canada's federal government, which must be addressed in the upcoming election. The system has struggled with quality rankings and access to primary care, mental health services, and new treatments.