'This is one of those rare textbooks that has as much to offer instructors as it does students. The authors have given the subject much thought and to real effect - after reading the book the complex world of elections and voting makes a lot more sense.' - Christopher Wlezien, Professor of Political Science, Temple University 'This goes beyond the normal conventions of a textbook: challenging as well as informing and offering new insights into the contemporary functioning of electoral democracy. It is one of the best introductions to the subject for new scholars and offers fresh understanding to even the most experienced veterans.' - Peter Mair, Professor of Comparative Politics, European University Institute, Italy 'Books on elections typically focus on single countries (or on a single country per chapter) or on specific topics. This text truly breaks that mold. It looks at elections, voters, parties, platforms and electoral systems in an integrated fashion, showing the implications of choices made by one actor in a political system for other actors; and, most importantly, it is genuinely comparative - making comparisons cross-nationally, cross-temporally, and within nations.' - Bernard Grofman, Jack W. Peltason Chair of Political Science and Director, Center for the Study of Democracy, University of California, Irvine