How Do Interest Groups Affect Elections

Interest groups are constantly seeking out ways to influence the political process, whether it be influencing governmental decision making or elections. Interest groups have a certain degree of authority when it comes to their powers, but they have their limits as well.
Two techniques interest groups utilize to influence elections consist of grassroots lobbying and political action committees (PACs)/super political action committees (super PACs). Grassroots lobbying super political action committees, and political action committees impact the constituents and the candidates greatly, which in turn impacts the elections.
Grassroots lobbying is where interest groups indirectly influence elected officials through their constituents. Interest groups will communicate with their grassroots supporters to put intense pressure on the elected official. It in turn causes the elected official to respond to the constituents out of fear of not getting re-elected. Grassroots lobbying affects elections by …show more content…
An unfortunate thing for the interest groups is that the media will not give them air time. Media halts interest groups ability to reach the mass public; consequently, it causes interest groups to not gain new members or have any form of advocacy. Media can also portray interest groups in a negative light and sway the public’s opinion. The media can potentially present the bad decisions that interest groups make and anything that can make interest groups look bad. For instance, if there is anything disagreeable connected with the interest group the media can illuminate it. With and without media coverage, interest groups are put into harm's way, therefore stopping interest groups from promoting the ideas and values they are desperately advocating