Answer :
Final answer:
Incumbents hold advantages in elections including higher name recognition, better access to campaign funds, existing campaign organizations, franking privileges, and often positive media coverage, leading to high reelection rates. The correct answer to the student's question is option (a,b).
Explanation:
Advantages of Incumbency in Re-elections
Incumbents enjoy several advantages that contribute to their high rates of reelection. One significant advantage is name recognition, as incumbents often have widespread recognition due to previous campaigns, media exposure, and their voting record in office. This makes them more memorable to voters when elections come around. Additionally, access to campaign funds is easier for incumbents. They are likely to receive support from political action committees and interest groups who see them as proven winners likely to stay in office. Incumbents can also leverage existing campaign organizations, which challengers must build from scratch, thereby saving time and resources.
Incumbents even benefit from institutional advantages like franking privileges, which allows them to send mail to constituents free of charge (within specific pre-election time limits). Furthermore, the nature of certain districts being uncompetitive or 'safe seats' for a particular party solidifies the position of incumbents. Lastly, incumbents generally receive more positive media coverage compared to challengers, especially if they have avoided scandals, thus further reinforcing their public perception as the favorable choice.