How Informed (or Uninformed) Are American Voters?

Classic studies dating back to the 1950's and 60's reveal that Americans are unsophisticated when it comes to issues or ideology. Their votes are determined "more by faith than conviction" and "by wishful expectation rather than careful prediction of consequences." What does that mean for the quality of their decisions in presidential elections? In a country with universal suffrage, aren't these are important questions? Larry Bartels directs the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Princeton University.