Voting and Elections

Vocabulary 1.Caucus 2.Direct primary

Warm-up Activity What’s on your pizza? Two options: 1.You have the choice between a pizza with cheese, pepperoni or pineapple. There is no discussion on this matter, just a simple vote. Each member of the class will cast one vote. 2.You have the opportunity to discuss with your classmates what toppings you would choose for the pizzas and come to some sort of agreement on your own. Which option would you choose? Advantages? Disadvantages?

Electing the President : Step One 1.Selecting candidates and nomination Caucus vs. primary; method/date selected by each state Closed vs. open primary Select delegates that represent certain candidates  national convention– officially nominate their party’s candidates (late Aug/early Sept) All eyes on Iowa and N.H. Iowa: first caucus, tests “temperature” of party faithful N.H.: first primary, test for general election Super Tuesday: day in February/March, greatest number of states hold primaries & caucuses—by this time, half of delegates selected

Step Two: The Electoral College To be elected: must win 270 of 538 electoral votes Electoral votes = # of H.of R. + 2 senators Campaign strategies related to: # of electoral votes in state State’s political climate

What is the Role of the Electoral College? Demonstration (pizza vs. ice cream) Fact: It is possible to lose popular vote but win presidency The 5 W’s of the Electoral College Case study: the 2000 presidential election Video Clip: Bush v. Gore

The General Election Running for political office = EXPENSIVE! Campaign money spent on a variety of things, such as??? Radio/tv time, campaign managers, newspaper ads, buttons, posters, office rent, polls, data processing, mailings, call centers, ect… TV ads are largest item in most campaign budgets

Financing: Private vs. Public Private: ranges from small ($5-10) to large donations Candidates also contribute $$ Organizations on behalf of candidate: national committees, PACs (interest groups) Internet now the most productive fundraising tool 2000: McCain raised $1 m. 2008: Obama raised $230 m. (primaries!)

Public Financing If take public funds, limited to using only that $ 2008: $84.1 million Since beginning of program, every presidential candidate had taken this $ 2008: Obama first candidate to refuse public $  raised/spent $300 million; McCain – public $

Money of the 2012 Presidential Election: Some important information…. Who were the nominees for the Democratic Party? The Republican Party? Your task… A webquest! Answer accompanying questions 10

Vocabulary 3.Straight party ticket

Who Can Vote? Has changed over time… Enfranchising groups: 15 th, 19 th, 26 th Overcoming obstacles (such as??) Current qualifications (for every state): 1.Citizenship: (typically) 2.Residence: of State in which you want to vote; length requirements (typically 30 days) 3.Age: 18+ Restrictions: commit felony, current debate: citizenship All but ND require registration (cannot be day of election) and most show ID

Voting Behavior Voter turnout tends to be low in U.S Presidential Election: 62.3% of eligible citizens Usually lower for Congressional races, especially if it’s an off-year election What influences the amount of voter participation? Campaign issues, candidates, voter attitudes, voter loyalty to parties

Factors that Influence Voters Education, age, income, gender important factors in predicting which people will vote Income: lower  Democrat, higher  Republican Age: younger  Democrat, older  Republican Gender: women  Democrat, men  Republican A majority of Americans identify themselves with one of the two major political parties early in life—many never change their affiliation Candidate and/or issues irrelevant Party identification can lead to straight-ticket voting

Activity: Political Socialization Competition between ideals of liberty, equality, democracy, civic duty, and individual responsibility Agents/influencing factors: Family, religious institutions, community, race & ethnicity, social class, education level, media, teachers, peers, national identity, gender Activity: Who influences you? Analysis of 2012 election data Suggestions to increase voting? Activity: Who Votes?