Original Abstract: Scoring lawmakers based on votes is common but flawed, even for unbiased groups. A 2004 example shows how these scores influence public perception and political strategy.

Revised Abstract:

### Beyond Simple Votes: How Voting Record Scores Influence Political Debate

The practice of ranking legislators by their voting records, exemplified in the familiar 'voting record' or scorecard approach, is a widespread phenomenon within American politics. While often presented as an objective measure to gauge ideological alignment and legislative behavior, these scores carry significant unintended consequences.

This article examines how such scoring systems operate and explores a revealing case study from 2004's Democratic presidential primaries that demonstrates their profound impact on political discourse. We find that while designed to inform voters objectively about representatives' positions, the very act of quantifying votes creates distorted perceptions of legislative behavior.