Good question. But data shows that elections maybe entirely unrelated to policy making.
http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/GilensPage2014.pdf
That study has been roundly criticised. In part for misunderstanding how a republic is supposed to work. It's not a majoritarian system by design–direct democracy doesn't work.
alt Hacker News
That study has been roundly criticised. In part for misunderstanding how a republic is supposed to work. It's not a majoritarian system by design–direct democracy doesn't work.