Final answer:
A political platform includes a party's policy proposals and stances on a wide range of issues, like health care and public policy. Platforms signal a party's values to voters and differ among parties. Candidates often share their platforms online while state party organizations draft platforms focusing on local concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
A political platform is a collection of policy proposals and positions that a political party supports and promotes. These platforms usually cover a wide range of issues affecting the country or world and often include specific plans for dealing with health care, economic policy, education, and other public policy areas. Each issue or policy described in the platform is referred to as a "plank." For instance, the platforms of different political parties might have contrasting stances on women's reproductive rights, with one advocating for women's choice and the other demanding restrictions.
Political platforms serve to signal voters about a party's values and priorities, much like a brand provides information about a product. However, it's important to note that individual candidates might not fully align with their party's platform and may choose to articulate personal views that differ.
Platforms are important for voters to understand the policy directions proposed by parties and candidates. Nowadays, it is common for candidates to have an online presence, such as a website or blog, to share detailed aspects of their platforms and connect with voters. Additionally, state party organizations draft state platforms that reflect local concerns and are usually the result of negotiation within the party.