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Glossary of VOTING, CAMPAIGNS, AND ELECTIONS

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MOTOR VOTER BILL
legislation allowing citizens to register to vote a t the same time they apply for a driver's license or other state benefit.
VOTER MOBILIZATION
a party's efforts to inform potential voters about issues and candidates and persuade them to vote.
SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS
citizens' involvement in groups and their relationships to their communities and families.
PROSPECTIVE VOTING
basing voting decisions on well-informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of a given vote.
RETROSPECTIVE VOTING
basing voting decisions on reactions to past performance; approving the status quo or signaling a desire for change.
PARTY CAUCUS
local gathering of party members to choose convention delegates.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
an election by which voters choose convention delegates committed to voting for a certain candidate.
FRONT-LOADING
the process of scheduling presidential primaries early in the primary season.
MOMENTUM
the perception that a candidate is moving ahead of the rest of the field.
FRONT-RUNNER
the leading candidate and expected winner of a nomination or an election.
SWING VOTERS
the approximately one-third of the electorate who are undecided at the start of a campaign.
OPPO RESEARCH
investigation of an opponent's background for the purpose of exploiting weaknesses or undermining credibility.
VALENCE ISSUE
an issue on which most voters and candidates share the same position.
POSITION ISSUE
an issue on which the parties differ in their perspectives and proposed solutions.
WEDGE ISSUE
a controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party.
ISSUE OWNERSHIP
the tendency of one party to be seen as more competent in a specific policy area.
NEGATIVE ADVERTISING
campaign advertising that emphasizes the negative characteristics of opponents rather than one's own strengths.
HARD MONEY
campaign funds donated directly to candidates; amounts are limited by federal election laws.
SOFT MONEY
unregulated campaign contributions by individuals, groups, or parties that promote general election activities but do not directly support individual candidates.
ISSUE ADVOCACY ADS
advertisements paid for by soft money, and thus not regulated, that promote certain issue positions but do not endorse specific candidates.
ELECTORAL MANDATE
the perception that an election victory signals broad support for the winner's proposed policies.

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