Question

How does the power of the incumbent affect voters?

Answer 1

Question:

How does the power of the incumbent affect voters?

Running Against an Incumbent:

Every so often you'll hear some voters, and even elected officials themselves, talk about creating term limits, as many in office have served for several years, or even decades, in their positions. Those who favor term limits argue that such limits will prevent those who serve from gaining too much power, and becoming disconnected from their constituents.

Answer and Explanation:

Those seeking re-election, the incumbents, typically have much more power and resources than their challengers and, thus, have a much better chance at winning. Incumbent's have the advantage of their office, as their decisions, actions, and views are often published by the media for free, unlike those of their challenger.
Besides exposure, incumbents have the resources of their political party to use in aiding them in their campaign. Voters have already given the incumbent a chance in the previous election, so they are familiar with them, and can see their voting record thus far. The advantages in running as an incumbent far outweigh those of a challenger and the rates of success in elections reflect it in the number of office holders who have served for very long periods of time.