Originally published on Mon April 8, 2013 10:44 am
We've all heard arguments that go something like this: it's not rational to vote, because the probability that your vote will make a difference is vanishingly small. This idea is formalized as "the paradox of not voting," and follows from a simple application of rational-choice theory.
Originally published on Mon November 5, 2012 8:42 pm
On election night, NPR reporters won't be the only ones sharing up-to-the-minute news and insights from NPR HQ. For the second straight general election, our Social Media Desk is hosting citizen journalists from across the country — and the political spectrum — to experience election night in person at NPR, as they present their own coverage of the evening's happenings.
If you've never heard of a Maiden’s Blush or a Parkeroo, you're not alone, but a new book catalogues these and other forgotten cocktails from past generations.
What we wonder, though, is when will we know whether it will be President Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney taking the oath of office next January?
Noah Hope, 10, shows off his I Voted sticker during the children's mock Election Day at Madame Tussaud Wax Museum in Washington D.C.
Credit Karen Castillo Farfán / NPR
Noah Hope, 10, votes for the next president of the United States during the children's mock presidential election at Madame Tussaud Wax Museum in Washington D.C., as the wax figure of John Quincy Adams looks on.
Credit Karen Castillo Farfán / NPR
Olyvia Berry, 7, decorates a sugar cookie at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Encouraging kids to vote through age appropriate activities is a fun way to share Election Day.
Originally published on Wed November 7, 2012 3:14 pm
Election Day is Tuesday, and it's easy to forget about those who don't have a vote — children. But it can be a fun experience if parents take the time to include the kids, and maybe bribe them with a little sugar.
Over the weekend, the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum in Washington D.C, did just that. Kids got to make patriotic sugar cookies, personally meet all the American presidents' wax figures and vote for the next president of the United States.
Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 11:13 pm
**Refresh this page often for the latest updates.**
A quick head's up on what this is. The Battleground is an aggregation of NPR member stations' content produced during election night. It's curated by the staff at NPR Digital Services, including Eric Athas, Teresa Gorman, Will Snyder, Kim Perry and Erin Teare Martin. The list of participating stations and states is posted at the bottom.
Some might say the big news in Johnson County elections happened during the primaries, when conservative Republicans beat moderates in four out of five races for state Senate.
Originally published on Mon November 5, 2012 8:44 pm
(Revised at 5:46 pm ET)
On the final day of the 2012 campaign for the White House, President Obama and Mitt Romney are making the last push for votes in states each believes critical to achieving the 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory.
Obama was scheduled to campaign in three swing states, while Romney had events planned in four. The only overlap was in Ohio, considered the linchpin of the election.
Requiring voters to show a photo ID has been a controversial issue in recent years with many states considering the requirement. A photo ID law got vetoed last year in Missouri, but Kansas lawmakers passed a measure last year requiring a photo ID when voting. That law got its first test in August.
Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 7:02 am
Tuesday, as those who follow politics probably know, is Election Day. The battle between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney has been contentious, expensive, personal, illuminating, ugly, frustrating, petty, enlightening and, above all, long. And it is expected to be close.
This week's Political Junkie column is an attempt to guide you to what's at stake on Tuesday, both in the contest for the White House as well as the 33 Senate and 435 House seats on the ballot.
Originally published on Mon November 5, 2012 9:44 am
It may be too little, too late for Rep. Todd Akin.
The Republican candidate for Senate from Missouri is seeing an influx of money in the closing days of his campaign. Still, it would come as a surprise to seasoned observers in the state if Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill went down to defeat.
While the Governor and U.S. Senate races in Missouri have attracted more attention, the campaign for the Lt. Governor’s office has heated up after a quiet lull that followed the August primaries.
