Just elections : creating a fair electoral process in the United States / Dennis F. Thompson.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [199]-244) and index.

Introduction. Electoral justice. Legitimacy ; Individual rights ; Fair competition ; Principles of electoral justice ; Deliberating about electoral justice -- [Pt.] I. Equal respect: why votes count. Casting votes ; Drawing districts ; Counting votes ; Conclusion -- [Pt.] II. Free choice: how voters decide. Selecting candidates ; Informing voters ; Financing campaigns ; Conclusions -- [Pt.] III. Popular sovereignty: who decides what votes count. Taking initiatives ; Deferring to state legislatures ; Empowering commissions ; Conclusion -- [Pt. IV.] Conclusion. Electoral deliberation. Justice and representation ; From principles to institutions ; Norms of electoral deliberation ; Forums of deliberation.

"The 2000 election showed that the mechanics of voting, such as ballot design, can make a critical difference in the accuracy and fairness of our elections. But as Dennis F. Thompson shows, even more fundamental issues must be addressed to insure that our electoral system is just." "Thompson argues that three central democratic principles - equal respect, free choice, and popular sovereignty - underlie our electoral institutions and should inform any assessment of the justice of elections. Although we may all endorse these principles in theory, Thompson shows that in practice we disagree about their meaning and application. He shows how they create conflicts among basic values across a broad spectrum of electoral controversies, from disagreements about term limits and primaries to disputes about recounts and presidential electors." "Accessible and wide ranging, Just Elections masterfully weaves together the philosophical, legal, and political aspects of the electoral process. Anyone who wants to understand the deeper issues at stake in American elections and the consequences that follow them will need to read it."--Jacket.