Is This Any Way to Run a Democratic Election?

Reviews / Votes

Praise for the Sixth Edition


If you aren't lucky enough to be enrolled in one of Prof. Wayne's classes, this smart, accessible book is the next best option. It allows readers to explore what works and what doesn't-and helps them to analyze for themselves how and why.


Rebecca Sinderbrand, Yale University; The Washington Post


Do democratic elections accomplish in practice what they promise in theory? This fresh edition of Wayne's seminal book looks back at the 2015-2016 election cycle and reminds readers that many of the contributing factors to Donald Trump's success are features of the American election process rather than exceptions to it.


Lauren A. Wright, Princeton University; Author of On Behalf of the President


In a time of rampant questions about domestic elections and "fake news," this edition of Stephen J. Wayne's book is both timely and relevant. The questions he raises about the integrity of our state election systems and the impact and role of social media, money, the nomination process, and political parties in our election processes are urgent today. Highly recommended.


John Kenneth White, Catholic University of America; Author of What Happened to the Republican Party?


A comprehensive study of every component of the American electoral process... and essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand how American elections inform politics and policy making. By addressing key issues in the 2016 elections, from social media to voter ID laws, Wayne grounds contemporary electoral questions in enduring debates about American democratic governance.


Meena Bose, Hofstra University; Director, Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency


Wayne tackles many of the great questions of American politics - voter turnout, representation, the roles of media and money, parties, nominations, campaigns, and government responsiveness - with an engaging, accessible, and informed discussion that will prove useful in a variety of undergraduate courses.


George C. Edwards III, Texas A&M University


Timely, insightful, and comprehensive, this book is a must-read for students, scholars, and instructors: Wayne provides a clear analytical framework for understanding the American system and thought-provoking ideas about elections past and future.


Margaret Tseng, Marymount University