Question

What is the central theme and the author's purpose in the text below? How does the author develop and communicate this theme and purpose? Give specific evidence from the text to support your answer.
In our current system of voluntary voting, the winner of an election is determined by the candidate’s ability to create controversy rather than by leadership skill. Campaigns therefore focus on highly motivated voters. These also tend to be the most partisan. This constant appeal to extremes on both sides of the political spectrum abandons voters in the middle. In turn, these moderates opt out on Election Day, since none of the candidates seem to be speaking to their concerns. Compulsory voting would offer candidates less incentive to inflame passions (Ornstein, Galston). Without having to spend so much of their time trying to appeal solely to the highly partisan voters most likely to show up at the polls, they could instead spend more time crafting policy proposals to meet the needs of all voters. Fewer highly partisan lawmakers would mean more cooperation and less unnecessary government gridlock.

Answer 1

The author's central theme is voting, election and campaigning. His purpose of the passage is to inform. The author informs about voting and election by one, explaining the process of voting and the steps leading up to election day, also by explaining campaigns. Like this part in the passage, "In our current system of voluntary voting, the winner of an election is determined by the candidate’s ability to create controversy rather than by leadership skill. Campaigns therefore focus on highly motivated voters." This is the explanation of how the winner is picked.

Answer 2

The central idea is about voting.
the authors purpose is to inform about voting and about how its done.
hope this helps.