Written by well known presidency scholar, Stephen Wayne, this brief text offers an overview of major issues concerning electoral politics and suggests ways to close the gap between democratic theory and political practice. Key topics include political participation, the role of money, the importance of political parties, and the role of the media. Updated discussion includes controversies that arose from the 2000 Presidential election, such as voter turnout, representational bias, voting irregularities, the role of special interest groups, soft money and the campaign finance reform debate, and the impact of the Internet.