Chapter 10

1. Chapter 10 Voting and Elections

2. Qualifications of Voting • 18 years old • a US citizen • Registered to vote • Resident of voting district

3. Registering to Vote • Meet registration deadline • Ways to register: • in person • by mail • when you get your driver’s license through the Motor Voter bill • Be able to prove citizenship, address, and age

4. Steps in Voting • Go to a polling place located in your precinct • Check in with the clerk - sign in and they verify registration • Go to a challenger’s table who double checks the info • Go to the voting booth

5. Voting Methods • Optical scan • Voters fill in ovals with a #2 pencil • Easy for voters to use, but scanning equipment is expensive • Electronic Touch Screen • Voters simply touch who they want on a computer screen, similar to an ATM machine • Easy to use • Machinery is expensive and there is no paper trail

6. Voting Methods • Punch Card • Voters insert cards into clipboard size devices • Punch a hole next to their choice • Tough to read if holes are not punched correctly • “Butterfly” ballots confusing to read

7. Voting Methods • Lever machines • Simply push down lever of candidate you want • Very simple to use • Machines are expensive, heavy, old, and no longer manufactured • No paper trail

8. Voting Methods • Paper ballot • Voters mark by hand who they want • Very cheap method • Counting is slow

9. Steps to Voting • If you vote for candidates from only one political party that is voting a straight ticket • If you vote for candidates from different parties that is voting a split ticket • If you can’t make it to the polls, you can vote an absentee ballot. You get the ballot early and return it by mail.

10. Steps to Voting • When the polls close, the returns (final results) are taken to the board of elections where they are recounted. • Media often try to predict the final results through exit polls - asking people how they voted as they leave the polls

11. Why People Don’t Vote • Did not register • Don’t meet the requirements • Don’t like the candidates • Apathy-just don’t care • Didn’t research the issues • Work schedule

12. Who Typically Votes • All people eligible to vote are called the electorate • Those who do vote usually are more educated, middle-aged, and with higher incomes

13. Sources of Information to Help You Make an Informed Choice • Newspapers • TV • Radio • Internet • Voter info pamphlets • From the parties themselves • Interest groups

14. Questions to ask yourself when you do vote? • Does the candidate stand for the things I think are important? • Is the candidate honest and reliable? • Does the candidate have any experience? • Will they be effective? • Does the candidate have a shot at winning?

15. Why Should You Vote? • You can chose your leaders • You can voice your opinion on the government • You can vote on key issues

16. Role of Media on Elections • News outlets place much time and money into covering elections • Use polls and make predictions which can influence the election • Coverage of the candidates can influence the election • Coverage can even influence voter turnout

17. Types of elections • Primary elections- narrow the field in a political party for the general election • General elections -takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November • All elections are decided by a majority vote except for the Presidential election

18. Special Elections • Initiative-This is a way for citizens to propose new laws. After a petition is filled with a certain number of signatures, the issue is put on the ballot for voters to decide • Referendum-This is a proposed law that is drafted by the government, but must be approved by the voters to become law • Recall-A special election where voters can remove a government official

19. Presidential Elections • 3 steps: • nomination • Campaign • vote • Chosen by the electoral college in a winner-take-all system • Winner’s votes are cast in state’s capitals in December • Each state gets 1 electoral vote for each member it has in Congress • 270 votes are needed to win • Large states have more power in this system than the small states • Possible to win popular vote and lose election (2000) • Almost impossible for a third party candidate to win

20. Running for Office • Campaigns require a lot of money • Each candidate creates an organization to help them run their campaign • This organization tries to get voters to know the candidate’s name, face, and position on issues • They may canvass communities, hand out literature or make phone calls

21. Running for Office • Try to use many different propaganda techniques • Most $ is spent on TV advertising • They also must pay for airfare, workers’ salaries, consultants, computers, phones, postage and printing costs • Local offices cost a few thousand dollars, Congressional races can cost about 2 million dollars

22. Financing a Campaign • Most of the rules that are to be followed were set out by the Federal Election Campaign Finance Act of 1971 • All contributions must be made public record • Individuals are limited in how much they can contribute

23. Financing a Campaign • There is a public fund for those wishing to run for President that comes from taxpayers who contribute $3 from their tax returns • A candidate must be able to raise at least $100,000 on their own first to qualify for the money. • The two major parties split the fund, but a third party can qualify for the fund if they got at least 5% of the popular vote in the last election

24. Financing a Campaign • soft money- donations are given to political parties and not designed for a particular candidate • money from PACs (political action committees)

25. Financing a Campaign • There is no limit to how much a candidate can spend of their own money • Most PACs give most of their money to incumbents- people who are currently in office