Caroline Tolbert – författare

"This body of research not only passes academic muster but is the best guidepost in existence for activists who are trying to use the ballot initiative process for larger policy and political objectives." --Kristina Wilfore, Executive Director, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center and Foundation

Educated by Initiative moves beyond previous evaluations of public policy to emphasize the educational importance of the initiative process itself. Since a majority of ballots ultimately fail or get overturned by the courts, Smith and Tolbert suggest that the educational consequences of initiative voting may be more important than the outcomes of the ballots themselves. The result is a fascinating and thoroughly-researched book about how direct democracy teaches citizens about politics, voting, civic engagement and the influence of special interests and political parties. Designed to be accessible to anyone interested in the future of American democracy, the book includes boxes (titled "What Matters") that succinctly summarize the authors'' data into easily readable analyses.

Daniel A. Smith is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida.

Caroline J. Tolbert is Associate Professor of Political Science at Kent State University.

"This body of research not only passes academic muster but is the best guidepost in existence for activists who are trying to use the ballot initiative process for larger policy and political objectives."--Kristina Wilfore, Executive Director, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center and FoundationEducated by Initiative moves beyond previous evaluations of public policy to emphasize the educational importance of the initiative process itself. Since a majority of ballots ultimately fail or get overturned by the courts, Smith and Tolbert suggest that the educational consequences of initiative voting may be more important than the outcomes of the ballots themselves. The result is a fascinating and thoroughly-researched book about how direct democracy teaches citizens about politics, voting, civic engagement and the influence of special interests and political parties. Designed to be accessible to anyone interested in the future of American democracy, the book includes boxes (titled "What Matters") that succinctly summarize the authors' data into easily readable analyses.Daniel A. Smith is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida.Caroline J. Tolbert is Associate Professor of Political Science at Kent State University.

This comprehensive study, based on state voter files, shows how low primary turnout distorts representation and explores reforms to increase participationThe Problem with Primary Voters is the most comprehensive study to date of primary election voters. The authors examine state voter files, drawn from the near-universe of US adults and all primary voters, matching these voter files to commercial data and predictive models of voter partisanship and ideology. Their research reveals that a representative democracy needs three things from its voters to function: participation, representation, and consistency. However, fewer than 20 percent of eligible voters participate in primary elections for Congress or state offices, and the voters who do take part are often highly unrepresentative not only of the general population but also of the voters in their own states and even of the other members of their party.Although there are many proposals for primary election reform, the authors contend that marginal increases in turnout may not make the primary electorate significantly more representative and may, in fact, have the opposite effect—making the primary electorate even less representative. The Problem with Primary Voters argues that the only reform proposal that garners substantial public support and has the potential to satisfy the three goals of participation, representation, and consistency is the establishment of a national primary day. Accordingly, the book closes with an explanation of why the authors think this reform could work, why it is politically feasible, and how it might be established.