Ballot design influences the power of televised attack ads in state supreme court elections

Televised attack ads in lower ballot races are a relatively new trend in American politics, leading to concerns from many commentators on their potential effects on democracy. Melinda Gann Hall takes an in-depth look at attack ads in the context of state supreme court elections. She argues that when incumbent candidates’ party labels are removed on ballot papers, attack ads have a much greater effect on their electoral fate.