Agenda 11/4

1. Agenda 11/4 • Do Now • K-W-L • PowerPoint on Voting • Group Activity: How to increase voter turnout • PowerPoint Electoral College/Discussion • Exit Slip: Is the Electoral College still effective? • HW: Finish L from K-W-L. Two things you learned from voting, two things you learned from Electoral College.

2. Do Now • K-W-L • Complete the K & L • What do you already know about the Electoral College? • What do you already know about your right to vote? • What would you like to learn about both.

3. Voter requirements for the state of New Jersey Voting is part of our responsibility as citizens • a United States citizen, • at least 18 years old by the next election, • a resident of the county for 30 days before the election.

4. How to register? • You must be a registered voter • Mail or deliver the Voter Registration Application and/or Party Affiliation Form to the County Commissioner of Registration

5. Where can I vote? • Locate your local polling station through the New Jersey website • Your polling station Why Vote?

6. Why Vote? • Voting is a special right that we as Americans enjoy. • It allows us to have a say in what our government is doing. • This includes how our money should be spent. (Schools, parks, etc..) • If you don’t vote who are you to complain?

7. Voter Turn Out

8. Increase voter turnout In groups discuss the following questions, brainstorm ideas, one person in group is recorder. 1.) Why do you think that older Americans might be more interested in government policies than younger Americans? 2.) What political issues motivate younger citizens to get involved with public life? Give examples. 3.) Some countries increased voter participation by holding elections on Sundays. What other methods can you suggest to increase turnout? 4.) In some countries voter participation is mandatory. What effect might this have on elections? Do you think this is a good way to increase citizen participation in elections?

9. Electoral College • Created by the founding fathers at the Constitutional Convention • When you vote for the President you are actually voting for an ELECTOR to vote for you • Each state has a determined number of electors

11. A state’s number of Electors is the total number of Senators and Representatives in the House New Jersey 2 Senators 12 Representatives Total 14 Electors

12. There are a total of 538 electoral votes -The District of Columbia is not a state but is given 3 electoral votes. -A candidate must have 270 electoral votes to win the Presidential election. -If no single candidate gets the required 270 electoral votes then the House of Representatives votes to decide the President.

13. 48 out of the 50 states have a “winner takes all” method If you get the most votes in that state you get ALL of their electoral college votes ***It is possible to get more votes overall in the election from the entire country and NOT be elected President

14. What do the following four men all have in common? • A. Andrew Jackson • B. Samuel Tilden • C. Grover Cleveland • D. Al Gore

15. The Answer • They all won the popular vote in a Presidential election but did not become President.

16. Total Votes in 2000 Election: Bush 50,461,092 total votes (47.9%) 271 Electoral Votes Gore 50,994,086 total votes (48.4%) 266 Electoral Votes Nader 2,882,728 total votes (2.7%) 0 Electoral College Votes

17. 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

18. What are the drawbacks to the Electoral College? • Encourages low voter turnout • Diminishes third party influence • Person with most popular votes may not win • Leads to tactical, insincere voting • If there is no majority winner in the Electoral College, the election goes to the H.O.R and there is a loss of separation of powers

19. Exit Slip: What do you think? Some people argue that the Electoral College is outdated and has not played out the way the founders originally planned. **Do you agree or disagree? Why? Make sure you use examples and support your argument. (4-5 sentences)