The coattail effect or down-ballot effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. ... People have a tendency to vote on the basis of a political party instead of the MP for their area.

What does coattail mean?

1 : the rear flap of a man's coat. 2 coattails plural : the skirts of a dress coat, cutaway, or frock coat. 3 coattails plural : the influence or pulling power of a popular movement or person (such as a political candidate) congressmen riding into office on the president's coattails.

What is the coattail effect and how does it work quizlet?

The coattail effect is when people support congressional candidates who are from the same party as the president. There is a theory that the presidential election filters down into local elections. Data does show that when a president comes in, it averages just over two Senate seats and 16 seats in the house.