{"product_id":"the-democracy-index-why-our-election-system-is-failing-and-how-to-fix-it-9780691154374","title":"The Democracy Index: Why Our Election System Is Failing and How to Fix It","description":"\u003cp\u003eDespite howls for reform, the only thing separating us from another election disaster of the kind that hit Florida in 2000, and that almost struck again in Ohio in 2004, may simply be another close vote. In this lucid and lively book, Heather Gerken diagnoses what is wrong with our elections and proposes a radically new and simple solution: a Democracy Index that would rate the performance of state and local election systems. A rough equivalent to the \u003ci\u003eU.S. News and World Report\u003c\/i\u003e ranking of colleges and universities, the Index would focus on problems that matter to all voters: How long does it take to vote? How many ballots get discarded? How often do voting machines break down? And it should work for a simple reason: no one wants to be at the bottom of the list. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e For a process that is supposed to be all about counting, U.S. elections yield few reliable numbers about anything--least of all how well the voting system is managed. \u003ci\u003eThe Democracy Index\u003c\/i\u003e would change this with a blueprint for quantifying election performance and reform results, replacing anecdotes and rhetoric with hard data and verifiable outcomes. A fresh vision of reform, this book shows how to drive improvements by creating incentives for politicians, parties, and election officials to join the cause of change and to come up with creative solutions--all without Congress issuing a single regulation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In clear and energetic terms, \u003ci\u003eThe Democracy Index\u003c\/i\u003e explains how to realize the full potential of the Index while avoiding potential pitfalls. Election reform will never be the same again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeather K. Gerken\u003c\/b\u003e is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School, where she teaches election and constitutional law. She is a frequent media commentator on elections and has written for the \u003ci\u003eNew Republic, \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eRoll Call, \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eLegal Affairs, \u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eLegal Times.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Princeton University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50327192928530,"sku":"9780691154374","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_470e9c3f-b890-402d-affb-5d0ce7b22f01.jpg?v=1727711107","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-democracy-index-why-our-election-system-is-failing-and-how-to-fix-it-9780691154374","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}