2007 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Paper Prediction Markets, Volatility, and Campaign Events in the
2004 Election
Jill Rickershauser, Duke University
Overview: How can we test which campaign events matter?
Using price and volatility data from a political prediction market, I
develop a model of information effects that identifies which
events of the 2004 were actually consequential.
Paper Campaigning Where the Ducks Are: Targeting of Campaigns
in U.S. Elections
Joel D. Rivlin, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Overview: This paper describes and explains patterns of targeting
by electoral campaigns, and discusses the possible implications of
these activities on the electorate and future targeting decisions.
Paper The Effect of Presidential Ads on the National Electorate
David W. Romero, University of Texas, San Antonio
Overview: This paper examines the effect presidential campaign
ads have on the national electorate’s information and its vote
(1952-2000).
Disc. Brian Arbour, University of Texas, Austin
24-6 ELECTORAL PROCEDURE AND ITS
CONSEQUENCES
Room Suite 9-128, 9 th Floor, Fri at 2:35 pm
Chair Indridi H. Indridason, University of Iceland
Paper The Electoral Fallacy Revisited: A Comparative Analysis of
Election Quality
Erik S. Herron, University of Kansas
Overview: This study assesses various approaches to identifying
fraudulent election results using precinct-level data from several
countries.
Paper A New Game in Town: Rules Changes and Voting in an Open
Primary
Arnold Fleischmann, University of Georgia
Damon Cann, University of Georgia
Ellen M. Key, University of Georgia
Overview: This paper uses individual-level data in a model to
predict the conditions under which a voter will choose a
Republican or Democratic ballot in an open primary system,
including after a law changed some offices to nonpartisan.
Paper Electronic Voting and Elections: Evaluating Optical Scan and
Digital Ballots
Robert M. Stein, Rice University
Gregory Vonnahme, Rice University
Overview: This study looks at the effects of different methods of
voting on the effective administration of elections including voter
service times, rates of under and over voting, and individuals'
personal evaluation of different voting technologies.
Paper A Preferential and Proportional System Without
Geographical Divisions
Stéphane Rouillon, Tecsult Inc.
Overview: This system uses equivalent samples of the population
to provide a non-discriminatory definition of districts, keeps
independant candidatures, alleviates votes-splitting in favor of a
common philosophy and guarantees at least a two-parties
coalition.
Disc. Stephen D. Fisher, University of Oxford
25-201 INFORMAL ROUNDTABLE: NATIONALISM AND
INTOLERANCE
Room State, 4 th Floor, Table 3, Fri at 2:35 pm
Presenter Pride and Prejudice: Resurgent Nationalism and Its
Consequences for Multiethnic Democracies
Kathleen M. Dowley, SUNY, New Paltz
Brian D. Silver, Michigan State University
Overview: This paper re-examines the claims of earlier research
from the 1990s that nationalism and national identity are in
decline in the west, especially in light of "war on terror." Types
and levels of expressed national pride are examined among
majority population.
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Presenter Religion, Fundamentalism, and Political Intolerance
Lilliana H. Mason, Stony Brook University
Stanley Feldman, Stony Brook University
Overview: A number of empirical studies of political intolerance
have found evidence of a relationship between religion and
intolerance. This paper argues that religious fundamentalism is the
primary religious correlate of political intolerance.
26-8 THE EFFECTS OF VOTING LAWS ON VOTER
PARTICIPATION
Room Clark 9, 7 th Floor, Fri at 2:35 pm
Chair Michael Crespin, University of Georgia
Paper Not the If but the How of Vote Procedure Changes and their
Effect on Voter Turnout: An Elite or Mass Based Causal
Process?
JulieMarie A. Shepherd, University of Colorado
Eric Gonzalez Juneke, University of Colorado
Overview: This study seeks to evaluate the recent shift from
traditional precinct voting to centralized vote centers in Denver
and Mesa counties in Colorado and how elites (candidates and
parties) utilize centers to their advantage (generating turnout).
Paper Early Voting in the 2000 and 2004 Presidential Elections
James M. Siira, Louisiana State University
Overview: In this individual level research I use a multinomial
logit model to explore the differences between early voters,
Election Day voters and non-voters using a national representative
data set in 2000 and 2004.
Paper Overseas Voter Disenfranchisement: 2006 Post Election
Survey Results
Susan T. Dzieduszycka-Suinat, Overseas Vote Foundation
Overview: Has awareness of the key role of overseas voters led to
growing participation and decreased rates of disenfranchisement?
Overseas Vote Foundation's 2006 survey results will provide
comparisons with 2004 trends in overseas voter participation.
Paper Race, Gender and the Costs of Voting: Predicting Turnout for
Blacks, Latinos and Women
Caroline Tolbert, University of Iowa
Daniel Bowen, University of Iowa
Bridgett King, Kent University
Overview: Race, Gender and the Costs of Voting: Predicting
Turnout for Blacks, Latinos and Women
Disc. Melissa Miller, Bowling Green State University
Ryan Claassen, Kent State University
26-201 INFORMAL ROUNDTABLE: CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Room State, 4 th Floor, Table 4, Fri at 2:35 pm
Presenter Communication and Citizen Participation
Georgette E. Dumont, Northern Illinois University
Overview: The call for increased citizen participation, while
admirable, does face obstacles. This paper will discuss how
communication and polarization can impact the successfulness of
an increase in citizen participation.
Presenter Civic Engagement Activities and the Political Attitudes of
College Students
Theresa L. Johnson, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
Overview: This research builds upon the work of scholars and
fellow colleagues Furlong & Scheberle (Midwest Political Science
Association Conference, 2005). They sought to determine
whether college students taking introductory political science
courses were more civic minded.
28-5 THE IMPACT OF DESCRIPTIVE
REPRESENTATION ON VOTERS
Room Clark 7, 7 th Floor, Fri at 2:35 pm
Chair Jennifer L. Lawless, Brown University
Paper Gendered Trust: Intersecting Descriptive Representation and
Political Trust
Valerie M. Hennings, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Overview: Does having a female elected representative influence
the trust women have in government? This paper explores the role