Unfortunately, elections in the United States of America are not fair. In addition to the forces who want to sway elections to further their own ends, there are built-in biases in the election system itself. Here is a table containing these biasing elements, and how they affect elections:





INHERENT EFFECTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Plurality Voting Biased toward oddball candidates, against similar candidates. Built in Ralph Nader changed 2000 Presidential outcome to Bush

Plurality Voting Some voter preferences are disenfranchised. Built in The voter who doesn't like any of the choices can't have his vote counted.

Plurality Voting Bias against minor parties: A vote for a minor party helps the opposition. Built in Third parties have very little chance of winning.

Plurality Voting used in Polls Bias in published public opinion polls makes candidates drop out. Built in Similar candidates removed from election.

Plurality Voting Bias selects the most extreme candidates on each side during primary elections. This causes the parties to become more extreme. Built in 1960s Democrats seem more like today's Republicans.

Straight-Party Voting Devices The straight-party mechanism saves a voter time, but biases local races in the direction voters want to vote in national races. Built in In 2006, many local candidates were voted out of office because people hated George Bush (who was not running).

Winner-Take-All Electoral Votes A few states can decide the election, taking power from voters in other states. Built in Candidates campaign in states that can decide the election.





THREATS MADE TO VOTERS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Scaring Voters Candidates warn of the end of Social Security, job losses, environmental destruction, global warming, the Antichrist, no more welfare, etc. Party officials In 2008, various emails claimed that either John McCain (his name contains Cain) or Barack Obama (tie to Islam) to be the Antichrist.

Threats to Employers Employer fears that the election of a certain candidate or party threatens the existence of the firm. Employers Several businesses left the United States immediately after Bill Clinton was elected President.

Threats to Employees Employer tells employees that the election of a certain candidate or party threatens the existence of their jobs. Employers Several businesses left the United States immediately after Bill Clinton was elected President.

Threats of Violence Thugs threaten to harm people and destroy property if their candidate doesn't win. The minions of powerful politicians This is manifested more in foreign countries today, but sometimes unions threaten violence to get their way.





DELIBERATE EFFECTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Using Plurality Voting Bias A candidate runs to bias the outcome of a Plurality election. Party officials Bill Clinton won by talking Ross Perot into running again after he quit.

Biased Journalism Instead of being neutral, as journalists are supposed to be, reporters and newscasters take sides. Lack of professionalism The press was blatantly against the Republicans in 2008. They even suppressed Saddam Hussein's false memo about WMD that started the Iraq war. They wanted the Obama health care plan for themselves.

Biased Entertainment Most of our entertainers take sides, usually liberal. They then use their characters to unfairly influence political beliefs. Lack of professionalism Most Hollywodd characters in TV shows talk as though liberalism is good and conservatives are bad.

Biased Educators and Children's Books Most of our educators take sides, teaching unsuspecting pupils a slanted belief system. Most textbooks reinforce this bias. Lack of professionalism Unconstitutional teaching that nothing is wrong with homosexuality and abortion. Dr Seuss books promote liberalism.

"Get Out the Vote" movements The people behind these movements make voting easier for voters if they want to vote for the "right" candidates. Parties spending money for votes Usually this consists of driving the voter to the polls for "free".

Gerrymandering (Redistricting to gain seats) When redistricting time comes around, the party in power tries to concentrate voters for the opposition into as few districts as possible. Abuse of power Districts for elected legislator seats that are long, winding, serpentine shapes still exist. There are two in Indiana (as of 2015).

Running Candidates with Similar Names By running another candidate with a similar name, a party can siphon votes from an opponent. Using Plurality Voting to cheat There were two John Myers in several Indiana elections.

Improper Standards for Voter Eligibility Requiring voters to pass tests, pay taxes, or meet other criteria biases the vote. Those in power Poll taxes, color bars, and landowner requirements.

Voting Requirements Violate Religious Beliefs Requirements for voter eligibility require people to violate their religions. Religious persecution The requirement that pollworkers collect identification numbers violates verses in Revelation.

Invalidating Voter Registrations Using various methods to eliminate voters who leave the area that also eliminate valid voters. Those in power Various voter purge methods (but NOT requiring a re-registration each year).

Impossible Deadlines Preventing people from voting by setting impossible deadlines to be met to be eligible to vote. Those in power Canceling registrations, but not letting the people who have been cancelled know until only a short time is left to re-register.

Long Lines at the Polls due to Lack of Capacity Busy and impatient people skip voting because the line at the polling place is long. Self-interest Officials bias the vote by not providing enough capacity for the voters in certain precincts.

Landlord Evicts Candidate to Make Him Ineligible A landlord who disagrees with the politics of a tenant who is running for office can make him ineligible for office by evicting him. By the time he can challenge the eviction in court, the election is over. Self-interest A candidate in Indiana was evicted, and could not find new housing in his district.





CLASS EFFECTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Concentration of liberals in cities Causes different regions to vote differently, can affect the electoral votes of some states, and biases political polls. Structural In 2000 election, most precincts voting for Gore were in cities, concentrating the liberal vote in a few states.

Biased Journalists The nature of learning journalism and the events of reporting tend to bias journalists to the liberal side. Lack of self examination Journalists see human suffering, and see government as the only solution.

Running for office is a Bias Only extroverts typically run for office. Extroverts typically also have plans to change the world. Structural You can't find many politicians who want government to do less.

Homeless people can't run for office Since you must have an address to register to run for office, a homeless person can not run for office. Structural Was used to invalidate the candidacy of a man whose wife kicked him out.

Homeless people can't vote Since you must have an address to register to vote, a homeless person can not vote. Structural Was used to prevent a man whose wife kicked him out from voting.





SELF-INTEREST EFFECTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Biased Entertainers Most entertainers hate being required to make their entertainment earn a profit. They want the freedom to create they think Socialism would bring them. Self-interest Jay Leno always treats conservatives as being simple or stupid. "They can't see how nice liberalism is." Never mind that it doesn't work.

Biased Educators Most of our educators believe liberal policies will pay them more. Self-interest Teachers telling their pupils to tell their parents to vote for candidates, and promoting unions.

Biased Education Most educators and education human resources people are biased against hiring conservatives and religious people. Self-interest Religious people being laid off and not being hired.

Politicians Promising Benefits The politician promises that, if he is elected, he will act to give people money from the treasury. Self-interest Welfare, Social Security, and other programs that give people money definitely sway the votes of those who benefit from them.

College Students Voting in Local Elections in Campus Districts People with no stake in local candidates or issues decide the election. Colleges Most college districts are controlled by liberal politicians.





UNINTENDED EFFECTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Long Lines at the Polls Busy and impatient people skip voting because the line at the polling place is long. Self-interest Certain kinds of voters are more likely to not want to wait in line, including businessmen and young people.

Media Reports Before Polls Close Causes voters in western states to change voting decisions. Network Ratings In 2000, some people didn't vote after hearing a network projecting a winner.

Bias in Political and Exit Polls Polling companies usually concentrate on cities, to save money on poll workers. This biases the poll numbers toward liberal candidates. Pecuniary In 2004, the polls predicted a nationwide Democrat win.

Plurality Voting System Bias in Polls Polling companies use the Plurality Voting System to take polls. This biases the poll numbers. Built-in In 2016, the polls predict the candidate most different than the others will win.

Bias in Answering Polls Conservatives and Republicans value their privacy more, and have a tendency to not answer polls. This slants the sample data collected. Privacy In 2004, the polls falsely predicted a Democrat win.

The Homeless Cannot Vote Because they have no street addresses, the homeless cannot register to vote. They can't be assigned a precinct without an address. Privacy People who lose homes because of divorce can't register until they find other housing.





CRIMINAL EFFECTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Trying to Vote Twice Using a false or former ID to register twice, so the voter can illegally vote twice. Anti-War groups and Earth Liberation Front Several voters were caught with multiple IDs in 2004 and 2006. Most were environmentalists or anti-war.

Identity Theft to Steal Someone's Vote Submitting a false change-of-address form to remove a voter from his precinct's voter roll. Earth Liberation Front Several voters reported that they were victims of false address changes in 2004 and 2006.

Attempts to prevent voting or destroy votes Activists have resorted to unplugging voting machines, stealing ballot boxes, causing power failures at polling places, and more. Anti-War groups and Earth Liberation Front A backhoe showed up at a polling place and dug up the parking lot driveway. The order for a culvert replacement sent to the company was phony.

Fake Mail-in Ballots Mail-in voting provides opportunities for cheating, because the postal system is not secure. Radical groups Multiple ballots received cause a question of which one is the real ballot from the voter.

Stealing Mail-in Ballots from Mailboxes The perpetrators look for mail-in ballots being received by voters in their home mailboxes. They steal the ballots, mark them, and return them. Meanwhile, the real voter didn't get a ballot. Radical groups who want their own way The reports people made that their ballots hadn't arrived yet.

Union Coercion Labor unions coerce members to vote for pro-union candidates. Labor unions and liberal candidates This has been a major problem since the late 1800s.

Employer Coercion Employers coerce employees to vote for liberal candidates. Employers and liberal candidates This has been a major problem since the 1960s.

Rewards for Voting a Certain Way Someone gives away rewards if a certain candidate or referendum choice wins. Groups wanting to influence an election Pizzas passed out on campus if a candidate wins.

Rewards for Registering Someone gives away rewards at a political rally for a candidate, in exchange for registering to vote. Groups wanting to influence an election Pizzas passed out to people who register to vote (ruled voter tampering.

Buying Votes Paying people to vote a certain way. Cell phone cameras are used to prove the vote. Groups wanting to influence an election Rules prohibiting cell phones from voting booths.

Attempts to create votes Adding false votes to a ballot box, and showing up as a person who recently died to vote. Earth Liberation Front The Chicago graveyard vote. A "found" box of ballots changed the outcome the 1984 Indiana Congressional 8th District recount.





OFFICIAL CRIMINAL ACTS

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Counting Votes Twice Surreptitiously moving boxes of ballots from the pile of counted votes to the pile of uncounted votes. Election officials Precincts counted twice in Monroe County, Indiana.

Trying to Suppress Military Votes Using tricks to keep servicemen from casting votes. Democrats Bill Clinton ordered servicemen on surprise military maneuvers on Election Day in 2000. Anyone who had not voted absentee lost his vote.

Trying to Disqualify Military Votes Using tricks to keep the votes of servicemen from counting. Democrats In 2000, Al Gore tried to disqualify thousands of votes from men on Navy ships, because their mail is never postmarked.

Postal Workers Misdirecting Votes Unscrupulous postal workers diverting mail-in votes mailed from certain areas, so they miss the deadlines. Postal unions Ballots arriving in the mail and mail tubs found in a mail room after the election ends.

Fraud While "Helping" elderly and blind voters vote. These people vote the way they want, not the way the blind or elderly intend to vote. People wanting to influence an election Telling the voter he is voting a certain way, while actually voting another way.

Election Officials Spoiling Ballots Officials determined to elect their party's candidate surreptitiously spoil votes for opposing candidates. Officials wanting to influence an election Many overvotes are intentionally spoiled ballots.

Losing Ballots When counting votes, election officials lose or hide boxes of ballots. Officials wanting to influence an election Boxes of ballots found after the election ends.

"Finding" Ballots When counting votes, election officials find and count boxes of discarded spoiled ballots. Officials wanting to influence an election Boxes of ballots found after the election ends.

Giving Voters the Wrong Ballots An election official takes a voter to the wrong precinct's voting machine, or hands the voter a ballot for the wrong district. Officials wanting to influence an election Prevents voters likely to vote for a certain candidate from voting in that race.

Programming a Voting Machine Wrong Setting up a voting machine so that votes for one candidate are either lost, or are given to another candidate. Election officials A candidate receiving no votes on one machine.

Creating a Confusing Ballot Setting up a voting machine or a paper ballot so the names don't line up with the active parts of the ballots. Election officials Impossible to tell which straight-party lever goes with which party.

Demanding Replacement with the Runner Up If an elected official is impeached or leaves office, members of the other party demand that the runner up in the election be seated. But the voters who voted for the official who is leaving probably would not have voted for the other candidate. Some have even demanded impeachment of the President, so their candidate could replace him. Party officials In Indiana, when Secretary of State Charlie White was removed from office, Democrats demanded that their candidate in the race be seated. The Supreme Court refused to disenfranchise voters this way, and let the governor choose a successor as the Constitution provides. And MoveOn.org wrongly said that, if President Bush could be impeached, John Kerry would become President. WRONG!!





FALSE EFFECTS (do not cause the claimed bias)

BIAS EFFECT SOURCES EXAMPLES

Religious Bias Against a Candidate Candidates claim that religions are biased, after making promises that violate one or more religions. Candidates call the religions biased, but the candidates themselves cause the biases, by promising to do things that violate religions. Pleasing sinners Both Kerry and Obama promised more gay rights and government funding for abortions.

Political and Exit Polls Show Election Biases Faulty data collection methods concentrating on cities bias political polls, but parties claim the election is biased instead. Actually, the polling methods are unintentionally biased to favor a liberal outcome, because polls are taken in cities to save money. Pecuniary In 2004, Democrats claimed the election was faulty, not the exit polls.

Dimpled Chad on Punch Cards Dimpled chad on voting cards are caused by a poorly maintained card reader, not attempts to vote. Ignorance In 2000, Democrats claimed the dimpled chad were attempts to vote.

Voting Machine Companies will Cheat Liberals say that the corporations that make voting machines would make them favor Republican candidates. But they would be forced out of business if this happened, because nobody would ever buy their machines again. Hatred toward corporations In 2004, Democrats claimed Diebold fixed the election in Ohio, because the election results didn't match the opinion polls. But the error was in the opinion polls.

Crossover Votes sabotage Primary Elections. The voter voting in the wrong party's primary is really voting his opinion. The real problem is the existence of a primary election and the faulty Plurality Voting System that lets this happen. Ignorance In 2008, Democrats claimed that Republicans crossed over to sabotage the Democrat primaries.

"It had to be Rigged. My Candidate Lost." The argument is that, "Nobody would vote for the opponent, so how could he have won?" Liberals falsely believe that all people think liberal. Ignorance This stupid claim was actually made in 2004 in Ohio. A judge threw it out.

"Republicans vote Tuesday, Democrats vote Wednesday" emails Anyone thinking this is anything but a stupid joke believes that most voters are uneducated sheep, meant to be led by politicians. Ignorance Newspaper articles in 2008 decried emails containing these jokes as attempts to suppress the vote.