Do Now Find your new seat by looking at the chart near the door Write Date and Daily Objective (if you didn’t get it yesterday) in your notebooks Turn in any late homework to Mr. G. Work quietly on Memorization until Notes Start @ 8:30

Chapter 10 Voting and Elections

Section 1 Who can vote?

The Big Idea The right to vote is one of the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS of citizens in a democratic society. Voting is a basic political right of all U.S. citizens who meet CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS set by law.

Qualifying to Vote The right to vote is the FOUNDATION of American DEMOCRACY. Voting is both a RIGHT and a RESPONSIBILITY. People previously BARRED from voting in the United States: White adult MALES who did not own property WOMEN African American MALES Native American MALES People under 21 years of age

Qualifying to Vote Voting rights today: Right to vote NOT DENIED because of race, color, gender, or age (if at least 18 years old) Right to vote denied to people convicted of SEROUS CRIMES

Qualifying to Vote Voter registration: Required 25 days before an ELECTION in most states State requirements vary Information needed for voter REGISTRATION FORMS Identity proof needed to register for FIRST-TIME voters

Steps in Voting Voting is a basic political right of all U.S. citizens who meet CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS set by law. On Election Day, citizens cast their votes at a polling place in their PRECINCT. Sample BALLOT at the entrance CLERKS and CHALLENGERS have certain responsibilities ELECTION JUDGES are also present

Steps in Voting Types of voting machines: PUNCH-CARD machine LEVER machine Ballots: “BUTTERFLY ballot”, PUNCH-CARD ballot, COMPUTERIZED ballot, SECRET ballot, ABSENTEE ballot

Steps in Voting After voting: ELECTION WORKERS take returns to ELECTION BOARD, Election board sends returns to STATE CANVASSING AUTHORITY, EXIT POLLS used to predict election results, MEDIA PROJECTIONS may influence on voters

Why Your Vote Matters Through our vote, we DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE in governing. Voters use a variety of sources to inform themselves about CANDIDATES and PUBLIC ISSUES. QUESTIONS to ask when deciding for whom to vote The ELECTORATE as all the people eligible to vote

Why Your Vote Matters Why some people do not vote: Not meeting state REQUIREMENTS Not REGISTERING Views NOT REPRESENTED by candidates Vote won’t make a DIFFERENCE APATHY

Why Your Vote Matters Why some people do vote: POSITIVE ATTITUDES towards government and citizenship EDUCATION, age, and income Gives a chance to choose GOVERNMENT LEADERS Gives a chance to VOICE OPINIONS

What do YOU think? Do you think it is a citizen’s duty to vote in every election? Do you think that turnouts in U.S. elections would improve if Election Day was made a federal holiday?

Section 2 Election Campaigns

The Big Idea A successful democracy is built on an informed electorate. The success of an election campaign depends on the people who organize it.

Types of Elections There are different types of elections in the United States political system. Besides primary elections, there are three types of elections in the United States: general elections, elections on issues, and special elections.

Types of Elections General elections: Held after primary elections Always on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November All seats in House and one-third of seats in Senate at stake every even-numbered year Presidential elections every four years State and local elections Disputed elections

Types of Elections Issue elections: Initiatives as a way to amend the state constitution through propositions Referendums as a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law

Types of Elections Special elections: Runoff election as a way to determine winner of state or local election Recall as a way to remove a public official from office

Presidential Elections Presidential elections have three major steps: (1) nomination of the candidates, (2) the campaign, and (3) the vote. Changing role of national conventions in nominating candidates Elements of campaigns

Presidential Elections Electors: Part of the Electoral College system List of electors pledged to each candidate Winner-take-all system Elector votes sent to Congress to be counted Candidate with majority of votes wins

Presidential Elections Origins of the Electoral College system Problems with the Electoral College system Reforming the Electoral College system

What Do YOU Think? Do you agree that U.S. voters should vote directly on specific issues, rather than electing representatives to vote on their behalf? Do you think that the Electoral College system should be abolished?

Paying for Election Campaigns Section 3 Paying for Election Campaigns

Running for Office Running for public office is the first step in the election process. Money plays a major role in the election process. The purpose of campaigns is to convince the public to vote for a particular candidate.

Running for Office Campaign techniques: Canvassing to find out public opinion Endorsements as propaganda Advertising to create the right image and to attack opponents Campaign expenses and high levels of spending in recent elections

Financing a Campaign Candidates spend considerable time and effort raising campaign funds. Legislation and judicial decisions have established rules for financing political campaigns. Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971: Required public disclosure of candidates’ spending Limited amount of hard money donated directly to a candidate or party Tried to limit campaign spending

Financing a Campaign Federal Election Commission (FEC): Created by the 1974 amendment to FECA Administers all federal election laws Monitors campaign spending 1976 Supreme Court ruling in Buckley v. Valeo: Government could set limits on campaign contributions Government could not limit spending of a candidate’s own money

Financing a Campaign Presidential Election Campaign Fund: Text created to establish public funding for presidential elections Money comes from annual taxes Two major-party candidates can receive equal shares of money from fund Third-party candidates can also qualify for funding

Financing a Campaign Private funding from various sources: Individual citizens Corporations Labor unions Interest groups Political action committees (PACs)

Financing a Campaign Laws made by Congress concerning soft money: Money used for general party-building purposes Money could not come from individuals or PACs No limits on contributions Money spent by interest groups on media Money given by PACS to incumbents makes reform difficult.

Financing a Campaign 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain- Feingold Act): Set limits on who could raise soft money Set time restrictions on campaign ads Set new limits on hard money contributions

Financing a Campaign McConnell v. Federal Election Commission ruling upheld the McCain-Feingold Act Role of Internet in future fundraising increasing

What Do YOU Think? Do you agree that government limits on campaign spending can interfere with citizens’ right to free speech? Do you think that the McCain-Feingold Act will make it more difficult for big donors to influence policymakers?