--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A key reason that elections are run so…" description: "\"A key reason that elections are run so badly is that in most states, political partisans are in charge.\" — Adam Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg" --- # A key reason that elections are run so badly is that in… ![“A key reason that elections are run so badly is that in most states, political partisans are in charge.” quote by Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg) > “A key reason that elections are run so badly is that in most states, political partisans are in charge.” [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Partisan control of election administration leads to inefficiencies and undermines democratic fairness. **In simple terms:** Political partisans run elections poorly. Key Takeaway Advocate for nonpartisan election oversight. Themes democracy elections partisanship efficiency fairness Mood critical optimistic Type political reform When to use this quote - voting processes - policy reform - public trust - legislative action Key Concepts political science governance institutional design Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could ensure impartial election management? - How does partisanship affect voter confidence? A Different Perspective May face resistance from entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Badly States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/badly-states-4871452/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Elections Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections-run-333319/) [Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key/) [Partisans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisans/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Partisans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-partisans-427084/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-elections-295426/) [Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/do-you-ever-get-the-feeling-that-the-only-reason-we-have-elections-is/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [Political partisans are very good at certain things, including mental gymnastics. We can explain away almost anything that doesn't support our party, candidate or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/political-partisans-are-very-good-at-certain-things-including-mental/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [I think the interesting thing about elections, as someone who has run through a couple of them, is that people are so busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wu/i-think-the-interesting-thing-about-elections-as-someone-who-has-run/) [Michelle Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wu/) > [The elections are run by the same guys who sell toothpaste. They show you an image of a sports hero, or a sexy model,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-elections-are-run-by-the-same-guys-who-sell-toothpaste-they-show/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Elections are run by the public relations industry. Its primary task is commercial advertising, which is designed to undermine markets by creating uninformed consumers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/elections-are-run-by-the-public-relations-industry-its-primary-task/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [U.S. elections are run by counties, and the laws they follow are set by each state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/u-s-elections-are-run-by-counties-and-the-laws-they-follow-are-set-by/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [The elections are run by the same industries that sell toothpaste on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-elections-are-run-by-the-same-industries-that-sell-toothpaste-on/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Do not seek to find a reason why elections are not possible. Seek to make them possible, and they will be possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/do-not-seek-to-find-a-reason-why-elections-are-not-possible-seek-to/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [The fact is that there's hundreds of thousands of incredibly motivated, active political partisans working on the blogs. These people generate buzz, it generates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markos-moulitsas/the-fact-is-that-there-s-hundreds-of-thousands-of-incredibly/) [Markos Moulitsas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markos-moulitsas/) > [“These partisan beliefs can upset the equation in which more information will bring us closer to the truth. A recent study in Nature found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/these-partisan-beliefs-can-upset-the-equation-in-which-more/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [From 1976, Judy to 1996, we had six presidential elections. And it was run under the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1974. In all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/from-1976-judy-to-1996-we-had-six-presidential-elections-and-it-was/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Congress needs to toughen the laws protecting elections and make clear that anyone interfering with democracy will pay a stiff price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/congress-needs-to-toughen-the-laws-protecting-elections-and-make/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Voting in presidential and congressional elections is a national right - and the national government should protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/voting-in-presidential-and-congressional-elections-is-a-national/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [As long as there have been elections, there have been attempts to keep eligible people from voting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/as-long-as-there-have-been-elections-there-have-been-attempts-to-keep/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [A federal Voters' Bill of Rights could press the states to put non-partisan managers in charge of elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-federal-voters-bill-of-rights-could-press-the-states-to-put-non/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) ## More by Adam Cohen > [Congress needs to toughen the laws protecting elections and make clear that anyone interfering with democracy will pay a stiff price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/congress-needs-to-toughen-the-laws-protecting-elections-and-make/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [In a perfect world, we would have put users in control of their information when the Internet was first created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/in-a-perfect-world-we-would-have-put-users-in-control-of-their/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [With increased awareness should come greater caution about how confessions are used at trial - and a greater willingness to overturn convictions when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/with-increased-awareness-should-come-greater-caution-about-how/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Being unemployed - or working at minimum wage - is rough in the best of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/being-unemployed-or-working-at-minimum-wage-is-rough-in-the-best-of/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [The Supreme Court's most conservative Justices have presented themselves as great respecters of precedent and opponents of 'judicial activism' - of judges using the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/the-supreme-court-s-most-conservative-justices-have-presented/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [To be rejected on account of old age may or may not feel the same as being rejected on the basis of race or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/to-be-rejected-on-account-of-old-age-may-or-may-not-feel-the-same-as/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Our movements reveal a great deal about who we are. A record of our locations over time can reveal whether we go to tent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/our-movements-reveal-a-great-deal-about-who-we-are-a-record-of-our/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [A federal Voters' Bill of Rights could press the states to put non-partisan managers in charge of elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-federal-voters-bill-of-rights-could-press-the-states-to-put-non/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [There was a rule, back when I was an education lawyer in Alabama, about visiting public schools: always go on a rainy day so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/there-was-a-rule-back-when-i-was-an-education-lawyer-in-alabama-about/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [When the government takes video of people in public places, the images should only be kept as long as they may reasonably be needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/when-the-government-takes-video-of-people-in-public-places-the-images/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Set in the advertising world of the 1960s, 'Mad Men' is stunning to look at - a Camelot-era parade of smartly dressed professionals lounging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/set-in-the-advertising-world-of-the-1960s-mad-men-is-stunning-to-look/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets have a great deal of information about all of us - and the government wants to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/twitter-facebook-and-other-social-media-outlets-have-a-great-deal-of/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [There is a lot of talk in conservative circles about judicial modesty and deferring to the political branches. That view of judging often overlooks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/there-is-a-lot-of-talk-in-conservative-circles-about-judicial-modesty/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > [Age discrimination is illegal. But when compared with discrimination against racial minorities and women, it is a second-class civil rights issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/age-discrimination-is-illegal-but-when-compared-with-discrimination/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) > ['Hard Times' does not romanticize the Depression, but at least a few of Mr. Terkel's subjects managed to find silver linings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/hard-times-does-not-romanticize-the-depression-but-at-least-a-few-of/) [Adam Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) [Explore all 98 Adam Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A key reason that elections are run so badly is that in most states, political partisans are in charge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-badly-is-that-in-most-states/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-badly-is-that-in-most-states/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/adam-cohen-6582_democracy_a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-b_3018139.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A key reason that elections are run so badly is that in most states, political partisans are in charge.” — Adam Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A key reason that elections are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-badly-is-that-in-most-states/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cohen/a-key-reason-that-elections-are-run-so-badly-is-that-in-most-states/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```