Issue Sorting

This week in class we discussed the idea of sorting. Sorting is where the voters sort the issues out to better figure out which issues they care about. The issues that are usually associated with sorting are the social issues that have come to play such a big part is the most recent elections. The idea behind sorting is that people who share preferences on issues and ideologies, are more likely to vote together. Now, does this idea of sorting actually play a big part in our elections?
Overall, I would have to say that sorting does play a part in our elections, and its influence is growing. No one can argue that social and moral issues are playing a much bigger role than ever, especially in the conservative south. So if a group of people all believe in the same social issues, they are more likely to choose the same party and all vote together. They use the party as more of a lens or shortcut. It’s tough for me to say whether or not sorting is playing a huge part in elections, or will it continue to do so. There is no doubt that social issues are playing a larger role, but how much of it actually has to do with idea of sorting is unknown. There are a lot more factors at play, like gender, and regional differences that affect what issues people care about. While I’m sure sorting is playing a role in how people vote, it will be interesting to see if it becomes a bigger factor as the next election nears.