Interest groups do not compete in elections. Their purpose is to influence public policy and the election results. They can be interested in a certain ballot measure or in a candidate or political party that supports their views. These groups can vary in size, wealth, power and objectives, but all use the same methods to influence public opinion and obtain favourable treatment for their candidate and position. These methods include lobbying, campaigning, advertising through the mass media, entertaining important figures and providing information for use by candidates, law makers and policymakers.
There are also public interest groups that work to protect the rights of the public and to improve government processes. These groups are discussed in NonGovernmental Organizations.
Interests groups can play a positive role in maintaining election integrity in the sense that they monitor the process to make sure that opposing interests do not receive preferential treatment. However, the vast amount of money being spent by interest groups today to influence public opinion, and thus the election results, raises many integrity issues which are discussed in more depth in Campaign Financing, PACs and Interest Groups.
