Electoral Dysfunction 2012
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980
Produced by David Deschamps, Leslie D. Farrell, and Bennett Singer
Directed by David Deschamps, Leslie D. Farrell, and Bennett Singer
DVD, color, 91 min.
Sr. High - General Adult
Democracy, Political Science, Politics, U.S. History
Date Entered: 05/01/2014
Reviewed by Douglas Reed, Department of Political Science, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, ARIn the U.S., is voting a right or a privilege? This seems like a simple question, but as Electoral Dysfunction shows, many of us don’t know the right answer.
Political humorist Mo Rocca guides viewers on a quest to understand the complexities and inconsistencies of voting in America. Entertaining and informative, he dispels the myth that the U.S. Constitution provides citizens with the right to vote, showing instead how voting rules are developed by state and local governments.
To illustrate his point, Rocca touches on the major elements of national elections. He explores the unique features of the Electoral College by hosting a mock election at a grade school. He interviews constitutional and electoral experts on the ramifications of varied ballot design (office column, party column, and butterfly) and the growing state trend of voter I.D. requirements. Moreover, because electoral policies are made by states, Rocca uses an Indiana case study to illustrate grassroots electoral activities. Focusing on two activists, one Republican and one Democrat, he shows how get-out-the-vote campaigns are essential to election victory. One point the film alludes to but does not fully develop is that our federal model (power shared by central and state governments) greatly influences how we do voting in the U.S. This is in contrast to the unitary model (power concentrated at the central government) that most other countries follow.
In 2012, Electoral Dysfunction premiered at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and aired nationwide on PBS. It was a featured selection at the New York Times Op-Docs Series and won the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award, the Chicago International Film Festival Television Competition, and the Silver Telly Award.
Recommended for academic and public libraries, Electoral Dysfunction is a balanced and engaging critique of U.S. election rules and policies. It is also a valuable teaching tool for courses in government, history, and political science.