The table below shows the primary motivations of four different voters in a municipal election:
| Voter | Primary Motivation for Voting Decision |
|---|---|
| Alex | Votes for the incumbent mayor because local crime rates decreased over the past year. |
| Jordan | Votes for the candidate who supports a tax credit for the tech industry, which will directly lower Jordan's business taxes. |
| Taylor | Votes for a challenger after analyzing how their proposed infrastructure plan will affect city transit over the next decade. |
| Morgan | Votes for every candidate on the ballot who is endorsed by the Green Party. |
Based on the table, which of the following models of voting behavior is best illustrated by Taylor's voting decision?
- Prospective votingAnswer
- BRetrospective voting
- CRational-choice voting
- DDelegate model of representation
Answer
Prospective voting is the model of voting behavior best illustrated by Taylor's decision because the choice is based on predictions of how the candidate's proposed policies will affect the community in the future.
Prospective voting is correct because Taylor's voting decision is based on predictions of how the challenger's proposed transit plan will perform in the future. This forward-looking evaluation is the hallmark of prospective voting.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Models of Voting Behavior