How Do You VOTE! Standards: 1) Political parties, interest groups and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means. 2) policy positions of advocacy groups; Advocacy groups (interest groups, lobbies) produce literature and maintain websites that outline their positions on public policy issues. 3) address public policy issues…

Voting Terms To Know… Absentee voting- Not going to the poll on election day Australian Ballot- Govt. Ballot, created in secret and not released until election day. Counted by govt. officials. Office-block ballot- lists candidates together by office they are running for. Party-column ballot- Lists parties candidates in a column under the parties name. Precinct- Voting district. Split ticket voting- Split-ticket is when you vote for candidates from different parties in the same election. This kind of voting can be used as a form of tactical voting in countries (such as the United States) dominated by two parties where a voter is not a wholehearted supporter of either party. (vote for multiple parties in one election)

Straight ticket voting- Straight-ticket voting or straight-party voting is the practice of voting for candidates of the same party for multiple positions. For example, if a member of the Democratic Party in the United States votes for every candidate from President, Senator, Representative, Governor, state legislators and those running for local government that is a Democrat, this is considered straight-ticket voting (Vote for only “one” party)

Political Socialization- learn their political beliefs and attitudes through personal background and life experiences. Suffrage-The right to vote. Political Right- Conservative (usually Republican) Political Left- Liberal (usually Democrats) Most of us are Moderates! Majority- Over 50% Plurality- The largest number of votes! (Might not be 50%) At-large election- as a whole (Statewide election like “Senators”) Open primary- Election in which “all” voters may participate.

Closed primary- Election in which only voters of a “particular” political party may participate. Caucus- Private meeting of party leaders, where they choose their candidates General Election- Everyone votes for candidates; National Election Single-member district- Electoral district in which only one member is elected to each office (President, mayor, etc.)

*Political Party- Group of voters with common interests Coalition- Group that combines forces to accomplish a goal. Coattail effect- Ride in on the good graces or popularity of another candidate. *Independent- Not a member of either Political Party. Incumbent- Elected official already in office. Lobbyist- Interest group representative.

Pressure Groups- Advocacy groups (also pressure groups, lobby groups and some interest groups and special interest groups) use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems. PACS- Political Action Committees (groups organized to elect or defeat political candidates) *Platform- A statement of a political party’s principals, beliefs, and positions on vital issues. *Planks- Section of a Political Parties platform. Ticket- The Candidates for president and vice president

Electoral College- The group of voters from each state who elect the President and Vice-president. *FEC- Federal Election Commission (administers and enforces campaign finance legislation in the United States Disclosure- Means the giving out of information, either voluntarily or to be in compliance with legal regulations or workplace rules. Especially in an election. **(Transparency)

National Requirements To Vote The issue of voting rights in the United States has been contentious over the country's history. Eligibility to vote in the U.S. is determined by both Federal and State law. Currently, only citizens can vote in U.S. elections (although this has not always been the case). Who is (or who can become) a citizen is governed on a national basis by Federal law. Each state, however, determines which citizens have the right to vote in that state. Basic Requirements: 1) A Legal Citizen of the U.S. 2) You are at least 18 years old. 3) Not a legally insane or a convicted felon!

Ohio Requirements to Vote! 1) Must be an Ohio Resident for at least consecutive 30 Days. 2) Must Register 30 Days prior to the Election. Must be 18 on or before the day of the next General Election. (**17 year old Primary Vote) 3) You are not incarcerated for a Felony Conviction! 4) You have not been permanently disenfranchised for violating the election laws.

Simple Rules to know… Must be registered so that you only vote “1” time per election. Where can you register? Office of the Secretary of State Any of the 88 County boards of elections The office of the Registrar or Deputy registrar of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Public Libraries Public High Schools or Vocational Schools County treasurers’ offices

Other Places to Register… The Department of Job and Family Services Department of Health Department of Mental Health The Department of Developmental Disabilities The Rehabilitation Services Commission Any state-assisted college or university that provides assistance to disabled students

Now what do I do…? Either send you registration by U.S. Mail to your county board of elections or Secretary of State’s Office You can also…Give it to the High School Secretary or deliver it in person to any of the above offices…they must get it to the correct Office within 10 days of leaving your hands!

Ok you are registered where do you vote? You cast your ballot at your precinct’s designated polling place between the hours of 6:30 am and 7:30 pm. www.sos.state.oh.us The above web address will tell you where your precinct’s polling place is located.

American Voting Amendments 15th Amendment: "Race, color, or previous condition of servitude" (15th Amendment, 1870) 19th Amendment: "On account of sex" (19th Amendment, 1920) 23rd Amendment: to the United States Constitution permits citizens in the District of Columbia to vote for Electors for President and Vice President. 24th Amendment: "By reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax" (24th Amendment, 1964) 26th Amendment: "Who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age" (26th Amendment, 1971).

The Electoral College: Electing the President Election Held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The President is not actually elected by the people! He is elected by a group of representatives known as the Electoral College.

The Modern Electoral College Your vote goes towards your parties Electors. We currently have an “all or nothing winner-take-all system”. What this means is that the candidate that wins the Plurality of votes in your state gets “all” of your states electoral votes! Unlike the orginal system we vote for the President and Vice President on the same ballot. In order to win the election a candidate must win 270 of the possible 538 votes.

Ohio is a relatively “Big” State when it comes to Electoral votes: We have 18. However keep in mind that the Electors DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE LIKE THE MAJORITY VOTES! (a dissenter has never changed the outcome of an election) If no one candidate obtains the 270 votes needed to win a majority in the Electoral College than the Presidency is decided in the House of Representatives Each State gets “1” vote; the candidate who gets “26” votes wins! If the Representatives in your state cannot agree on a candidate then your state loses your vote.

Arguments against changing the system… Federalism would be undermined…States would lose their say in electing the President. If they based it on the popular vote than candidates would focus all their time in Big Cities…the rural areas would have very little say in the election of their President.