Changing the Way America Votes - Election Reform, Incrementalism, and Cutting Deals

Election 2000 made America aware that its voting system was rife with problems. In a country that prides itself on its self-governing ability, Election 2000 pointed to a crack in the foundation of the mechanism by which the majority of those who participate in the political process chose their leaders.

Since the Bush vs. Gore decision chartered the course of history in America, scholars and practitioners alike have struggled to arrive at a comprehensive plan of attack for improving the voting process. The President has signed into law a reform measure enacted by the United States Congress that is being billed as a sweeping bi-partisan effort to effectuate that change. The question is, will America really see a significant and fundamental improvement in the voting process, one that ensures the equal protection of voting rights for all of its citizens?

This book analyses electoral reforms in America in the context of the larger picture of public policy theory, specifically that represented by an incrementalist paradigm. Given that the current congressional reform measure is based on a set of ideological compromises, the likelihood that it will result in sweeping change is doubtful. It is more likely that this is a cosmetic attempt to resolve a systematic problem. Still, the measure has some features that could serve to enhance our democratic system of governance.