I really like having elections.
I create several sims and put most of them in the political career, others in random careers (criminal, business, gardener or maid for example) who are going to try to be elected and others in the journalist career.
I create clubs with the different political parties and choose a few promises they make to the people (pass a law that punishes tax evasion (=money cheats), renovate the park, give $2000 to every YA that graduate high school with an A, open a nursing home,...).
Then I have them organize charity events and press conferences where the journalists ask them questions and rich people give them money for their campaign. I also try to do televised debates.
Finally the people vote for their mayor/president (depending on the save I play) and the elected Sim receives a budget for the duration of their mandate.
I use this money to pay the coworkers of the mayor, renovate or build (I just count how much money I used and take it away with a cheat), give scholarships, host dinners, bribe policemen if the mayor does illegal things or keep a part of the money while wishing noone notices.
It's fun as you can create silly laws, have people protest, create bad Sims who pretend to be decent just to be elected, etc.
Sometimes I add a mafia too, it's nice to see how everything turns out. :)
