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Elections in the United States

Elections in the United States. Elections. How age is related to likelihood of voting: -older people are more likely to vote How education is related to likelihood of voting: -People with more education are more likely to vote. Government Electoral Requirements that Decrease Voter Turnout.

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Elections in the United States

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  1. Elections in the United States

  2. Elections • How age is related to likelihood of voting: • -older people are more likely to vote • How education is related to likelihood of voting: • -People with more education are more likely to vote

  3. Government Electoral Requirements that Decrease Voter Turnout • Low voter turnout in the United States…why? • Citizenship requirement (must be U.S. citizen) • Age requirement (must be 18) • Certain groups cannot vote / are disenfranchised (ex. convicted felons in some states) • Limited opportunities to vote (midweek, limited hours, one day)

  4. Government Electoral Requirements that Decrease Voter Turnout Cont. • Must register to vote (in all states except North Dakota) • Residency requirements • Some states have Voter ID laws • Process of obtaining absentee ballots can be viewed as difficult • These requirements decrease likelihood of voting bc either make a person ineligible to vote or put up obstacles making voting harder

  5. Presidential Versus Midterm Elections • Usually, midterm (non-presidential elections) have a very low turnout rate because presidential elections have greater media attention, name recognition, etc. • This was not the case in 2018! Almost half of eligible voters cast a ballot; close to turnout for 2016 presidential election (55%)!

  6. 2018 midterm historic moments • Many historic moments in 2018 midterm ex. record number of women win seats in the House / 1st Native American and Muslim women elected to Congress / 1st openly gay governor elected

  7. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE = Winner-take-all system for electing the president (2nd place in a state receives 0 electoral votes) • VOTING EXPRESSED ON A STATE BY STATE BASIS = TRULY GIVES EVERY STATE A VOICE IN CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT • GUARANTEE OF AT LEAST 3 ELECTORAL VOTES – COLLECTIVELY BENEFITS SMALL STATES AND MAKES IT SO THAT CITIES LIKE LA AND NYC CANNOT DETERMINE THE RESULT BY THEMSELVES

  8. ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE • POPULAR VOTE MORE DEMOCRATIC • LARGE CITIES ARE MORE DIVERSE AND THUS BETTER REPRESENT AMERICAN SOCIETY / SHOULD HAVE A GREATER INFLUENCE • IF A POPULAR THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE—THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WOULD DECIDE THE ELECTION IF NO CANDIDATE RECEIVES A MAJORITY OF ELECTORAL VOTES

  9. PROPOSALS TO REFORM THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE • Create a proportional system—candidate receives proportional number based on size of popular vote in state (rather than winner-take-all) • Abolish the Electoral College and allow election to be determined by popular vote. • Create a limited presidential term of six years—no opportunity for reelection

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