parties

     Many people still think of an election in terms of parties, instead of in terms of issues or candidates. They identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans, and always vote a "straight party ticket". That means the Democrats vote for only Democrats, and the Republicans vote for only Republicans, by pulling the party lever in the voting booth.  People who identify this strongly with one party or the other probably learned it at their mother's knee. They probably spend a lot less time trying to keep up with political issues and decisions, so there's at least something gained by "being" one party or another.