Elections provide a key function in american politics by providing voters with a mechanism in which to

Elections provide a key function in American politics by providing voters with a mechanism to control the way their representatives (the politicians) act and, most importantly, to hold them responsible for their actions. Elections also provide citizens with an opportunity to be heard about the issues that they deem to be important (employment, education, safety), as well as about their needs and preferences, which - ideally - should be met by those that have been elected to represent them.