The Measure of American Elections (Cambridge Studies in Election Law and Democracy) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1107066670 ISBN 13: 9781107066670

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2014

Synopsis

Policymaking in the realm of elections is too often grounded in anecdotes and opinions, rather than in good data and scientific research. To remedy this, The Measure of American Elections brings together a dozen leading scholars to examine the performance of elections across the United States, using a data-driven perspective. This book represents a transformation in debates about election reform, away from partisan and ideological posturing, toward using scientific analysis to evaluate the conduct of contemporary elections. The authors harness the power of newly available data to document all aspects of election administration, ranging from the registration of voters to the counting of ballots. They demonstrate what can be learned from giving serious attention to data, measurement, and objective analysis of American elections.

About this title

Review:

'This book is the first of its kind, is highly relevant to ongoing policy debates, and is sure to become the touchstone for the field. The papers are technically rigorous, accessible to a general audience, and produced by some of the very best political scientists in the field.' Heather K. Gerken, J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law, Yale Law School

'This collection of studies has met the highest standards for the analysis of election administration of the United States. It points the way for future research and will shape policy debate – and, it is hoped, prescriptions for reform - in the years ahead. No one interested in the topic can do without it and almost any conversation on the subject must begin with it.' Bob Bauer, former Co-Chair of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration

'This is a landmark study of America's highly flawed and increasingly controversial election administration system. It provides authoritative facts that are all too often missing in political debates over election procedures and impartial measures to benchmark our progress toward a better American electoral system. A must-read for anyone interested in the state of American elections.' Bruce E. Cain, Charles Louis Ducommun Professor of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University

Book Description:

This book brings together leading scholars to examine the performance of elections across the United States, using a data-driven perspective. It represents a transformation in debates about election reform toward using scientific analysis to evaluate the conduct of contemporary elections. The authors harness the power of newly available data to document all aspects of election administration.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1107066670
• ISBN 13: 9781107066670
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384
• Editor: Burden Barry C., Stewart III Charles