Final answer:
People do not always vote based solely on the substantive platforms of candidates; they often use heuristics such as party affiliation; retrospective and prospective considerations also influence voting behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Do people always vote based on the platforms and substance of the candidates? The short answer is "sometimes." While voters ideally should base their decisions on the in-depth policies and stances of political candidates, many rely on shortcuts in their decision-making process. Party affiliation often serves as a significant cue. For instance, if a voter identifies strongly with the Democratic or Republican party, they may vote for a candidate based exclusively on this association, despite not fully aligning with the candidate's specific platform or stance on issues (planks).
Additionally, heuristics – or shortcuts like political party alignment – play a significant role. Voters may default to these when detailed information is scarce or in low-information races. Research shows that a significant portion of the electorate votes using their party identification, particularly when it's challenging to obtain comprehensive knowledge about the candidates or issues.
Voting behavior may also be influenced by retrospective or prospective considerations, where voters reflect on the performance of the current government to decide their vote (retrospective voting) or consider which candidate they believe will benefit the country moving forward (prospective voting). Voting, irrespective of the intricacies involved, remains a crucial way for citizens to express their preferences and hold politicians accountable.