Who can vote?

Voting Rights Denied Voting in America has changed dramatically since the birth of our nation. Initially, many groups were denied that right. Those groups included:

Voter Registration Most states require registration at least 30 days before an election. Applications can be obtained from county offices. Today many states make it easier by permitting online registration. National Voter Registration Act (1993) States must allow registration when people renew their driver’s license. Registration also in many government offices that serve the disabled. What does the voter registration card usually look like?

Voting qualifications in N.C. U.S. Citizen At least 18 years old Must be a resident of NC (30 days) Can not vote in more than one place No felony convictions

Steps in voting Where to vote? Polling place is the location where voting occurs. A precinct is a voting district. Each has its own polling place. Polling locations are generally town halls, schools, fire stations, or other public buildings.

At the polls You sign in with the clerk, and then a challenger looks up your registration and compares your signature. If they do not match, you may have to show further identification. *Some areas require a photo ID at all times.

Casting your vote A ballot is the list of candidates on which you case your vote. You proceed into a voting booth for privacy and confidentiality while voting.

Straight ticket vs. split ticket Straight Ticket *Voting for all candidates of a single political party. Split Ticket *Voting for candidates of different parties, depending on the position.

Types of voting machines Punch-Card Machine Lever Machine Electronic Machine - becoming more popular today *Many areas still use paper ballots and pencil answers.

Absentee Voting Citizens who cannot get to the polls on election day fill out an absentee ballot. Examples: Out of town, too sick to leave home, military serving away from home, etc. Today many states also offer “Early Voting” in the weeks leading up to the election- to allow for flexibility and shorter lines.

Counting the Vote Official results- or returns – are calculated at the polling place and reported to the county election board. Exit poll- Asking a sample of voters about their vote as they leave their polling place. Allows parties and news networks to predict outcomes.

Media and Elections Many major television networks devote the entire evening to reporting results.

Why vote? Why do people choose to vote? Why do people NOT vote?

Voter Information GUIDE Your task today is to create a brochure for someone new to voting in North Carolina. You must create a tri-fold brochure with information and images on all six sides! Use COLOR! Make it neat and attractive. Include: Qualifications for voting (specific to NC) Registration information Where can you register? In person and online? What information is asked? A step-by-step guide to voting Where do you vote? What to expect when you arrive? Etc. Summary/description of the parties Democrats and Republicans; consider using third parties too! Why citizens should vote! Convince them that this is an important right! Consider having a FAQ section, explanation of elections, diagrams or checklists, or any other helpful information. You must include at least one appropriate image on each of the six sides. Your guide must be non-partisan, meaning that it is not biased to any one political party or idea.