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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Voting for Ethics

This guide to ethical behavior should be required reading for every candidate for public office. As a former public official, I believe the greatest reward of public service is to make people's lives better...but that can only happen with candidates who are honest, ethical, and respect the dignity of those who elected them to office.

Leon E. Panetta, former Director CIA, Secretary of Defense

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Voting for Ethics: A Guide for U.S. Voters, 2nd ed., Palmetto Publishing, August 2024.

Voting for Ethics is a non-partisan guide that equips U.S. voters to make informed decisions. It emphasizes identifying ethical candidates, irrespective of political affiliations.

The updated second edition delves into the role of artificial intelligence in politics and the importance of a candidate's commitment to the peaceful transition of power. This book is a call to action for voters to scrutinize candidates' integrity, ensuring their vote contributes to an ethical political landscape.

 

 

Purchase Voting for Ethics: A Guide for U.S. Voters from Amazon

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Voting for Ethics in the 2024 Elections

Noon - 1:00 p.m. PDT Wednesday, October 9, 2024

A Discussion with Ethics Center Director of Government Ethics, John Pelissero and Senior Director of Leadership Ethics, Ann Skeet, coauthors of Voting for Ethics: A Guide for U.S. Voters, 2nd ed., about the 2024 elections and how to determine if candidates are ethical, are conducting an ethical campaign, and are fundraising in an ethical fashion. Pelissero and Skeet will address key topics from the book, including how ethics should be central to voters’ assessment of campaigns and candidates and the ways in which electoral campaigns have changed in the past few years, including the issues of truthfulness, integrity, and the responsible use of generative AI in campaigns.

Watch Full Event Recording

2024 Voting For Ethics Promotional Flyer
John Pelissero Grand Reunion Event
Voting for Ethics: John Pelissero at SCU's Grand Reunion Event

October 11, 2024

This event featured a discussion about the 2024 elections and how to determine if candidates are ethical, are conducting an ethical campaign, and are fundraising in an ethical fashion. Pelissero will explained how ethics should be central to voters’ assessment of campaigns and candidates and the ways in which electoral campaigns have changed in the past few years, including the issues of truthfulness, integrity, and the responsible use of generative AI in campaigns.

Watch Full Event Recording

Voting for Ethics - The Video

About the Video

"Voting for Ethics" is a short video made possible by a grant from a generous donor who shares our vision to educate the public about ethics in the voting process and how to evaluate candidates to make more informed decisions.

Watch the Voting for Ethics Video

Commentary on Democracy Integrity
Gary Fields of the Associated Press, right, interviews Evan Milligan, left, on Sept. 19, 2022, in Montgomery, Ala. Milligan was among voters and advocacy groups who filed a lawsuit challenging the redistricting that split Montgomery between two congressional districts. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Elections: Covering Low-Income Voters As Multifaceted, Whole People

U.S. Journalism leaders offer lessons and moral framing to help political reporters better cover low-income and poor Americans as voters.

A map of the U.S. highlighted in red and blue. Photo by Clay Banks/Unsplash.
The Missing ‘Swing Voters’ Whose Voices we Need to Hear

The Kamala Harris-Donald Trump presidential debate missed the voices of America's biggest category of 'swing voters'--low-income and poor people.

A phone with several AI apps installed. Photo by Solen Feyissa/Pexels.
How to Avoid AI-Enhanced Attempts to Manipulate the Election

The headlines this election cycle have been dominated by unprecedented events, it’s no wonder other important political developments have been drowned out, including the steady drip of artificial intelligence-enhanced attempts to influence voters.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, moderated by ABC's Rachel Scott, speaks at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, July 31, 2024, in Chicago.
Donald Trump Asked Rachel Scott to Define DEI. Here’s how she Could Have

At the NABJ convention in Chicago on July 31st, Donald Trump Asked Rachel Scott To Define DEI. She Should Have.

Two Column
The Ethics of Voting: John Pelissero on Voting Rights and Voter Suppression

Are laws always ethical? How have voting rights recently been restricted within the United States? Are state officials abusing their power in unethical ways to change voting regulations?

John Pelissero, director of government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics discusses voting rights, disinformation, discrimination, and voter suppression.

Listen to Wild Beasts

About the Authors

 

John Pelissero, director, government ethics
John P. Pelissero is the director of government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics of Santa Clara University. A professor emeritus of political science at Loyola University Chicago, he taught American politics, state and urban politics, and public administration courses for 40 years. He is co-author with Robert E. England and David R. Morgan of Managing Urban America, 8th ed. (CQ Press, 2016).

 

 

 

Ann Gregg Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics
Ann G. Skeet is the senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics of Santa Clara University. A former media and nonprofit executive, Ann has studied the dilemmas of leaders and followers in her 10 years at the Center and in her role as CEO of American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley. She was a contributor to the 1st edition of Voting for Ethics and also to Hana Callaghan’s book, Campaign Ethics. Ann is also a co-author with Brian Green and José Flahaux on Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap.

 

 

Hana S. Callaghan
The late Hana S. Callaghan was the director of government ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics of Santa Clara University from 2014 to 2020. She wrote the first edition of this book (2020) and Campaign Ethics: A Field Guide (2018). She was a leader in the ethical political campaign movement.

 

 

For More Information

The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics staff and affiliated scholars can provide commentary and background information for media on a variety of government and ethics related topics including voting, elections, and campaigning.

John P. Pelissero, Ph.D.: Pelissero is a senior scholar at the Ethics Center and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago, where he served on the faculty for 35 years until 2020. An accomplished researcher and teacher in various areas of American politics, he is a specialist in urban politics and public administration. He has published dozens of articles in political science journals and has published two books. He was chairperson of the Department of Political Science, served seven years as provost and chief academic officer, and led Loyola University Chicago as interim president for one year. Pelissero promotes the values of ethical awareness and social justice in education and community action.  E-mail: jpelissero@scu.edu

 

For additional details, please see the Press Release for "Voting for Ethics," or contact Joel Dibble, Senior Director, News and Public Relations at jdibble@scu.edu.