In modern democracies such as the United States, the electoral process is influenced by political parties, interest groups, public opinion, and mass media, as well as by the voters themselves. Mass media offer outlets for politicians running for office to explain their views to the audience of these media; these outlets also provide a way for media commentators to critique these policies and shape public opinion. Political parties create platforms which reflect their philosophies and policies, with which candidates generally align themselves when running for office. Interest groups usually focus on particular issues of interest to their members and often lobby policymakers in the legislature to pass laws focusing on these issues. For more on these influential factors, click the below link and read the the first four sections, which cover the mass media, interest groups, opinion leaders, and complex influences (including voter attittudes).
https://www.britannica.com/topic/public-opinion/The-mass-media
Additional resources for further exploration
Read a quick and easy overview of the U.S. electoral process (explained for a British audience) at the link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2236285.stm
Centered on the teaching theme of elections, these activities include storypath elections for grades K-8 and creating a campaign for a fictional character for grades 3-5.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/unit/elections-everything-you-need
The Growing Voters web site provides "Kid Campaign Reporters in Action" and "Create Election Trading Cards" activities for elementary grade students.
Learning Activities
Check your general knowledge of elections in the United States with this quiz.
https://www.cnn.com/citizen-by-cnn/tools/2019/voter-registration-quiz-trnd/
