Who can Vote? And Types of Elections

Qualifying to Vote Voting is the right to choose who will run the government. It is also a civic responsibility. If you don’t vote, you hand over your share of political power to other voters who may not share your views. In the nation’s early years, most voters were white, adult male property owners.

Qualifying to Vote Today, the Constitution forbids any state to deny the right to vote because of race, color, gender, or age (if the person is at least 18 years old). An exception is a person in prison. To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18, a resident of the state for a specified time, and a U.S. citizen. In most states, you must be registered to vote.

Qualifying to Vote You must register by the deadline set by your state. You can register in person at a county office. In some states, you may register by mail. The National Voter Registration Act allows voters to register when they renew their driver’s licenses.

Qualifying to Vote Registration forms ask your name, address, age, and often your party preference. If you register as a Republican or Democrat, you may participate in primary elections. You must prove citizenship, address, and age by showing your driver’s license or birth certificate.

Qualifying to Vote You will be assigned to a district. When you go to vote, elections officials will check for your name on a list of voters registered in the district.

Steps in Voting To vote, you go to the polling place, a location in your precinct, or voting district. You fill out and sign an application form at the clerk’s table. The clerk reads your name aloud and passes your application to a challenger’s table. The challenger looks up your registration form and compares your signature to the one on your application.

Steps in Voting If they do not appear to match, the challenger may ask for more identification. When convinced, the challenger initials your application. You go to the voting booth and hand the application to an election judge, who makes sure everyone can vote in secret and helps people with special needs.

Steps in Voting A ballot is the paper (or computer card) you use to cast your vote. It lists the candidates’ names according to their party and the office they are seeking. You cast your ballot by using a voting machine.

Steps in Voting The type of machine varies from state to state. With one type you punch a hole next to the candidate’s name. With another you use a lever. With another you use a touch screen on a computer.

Steps in Voting If you vote for all candidates in one political party, you are voting a straight ticket. If you choose candidates from both parties, you are voting a split ticket. You may choose to cast a write-in vote by writing in the name of someone not on the ballot.

Steps in Voting People away from home or too sick to get to the polls on Election day can vote by absentee ballot. They mark the ballot and return it by mail. When polls close, election workers count the votes and take the ballots and returns, or results to the election board. The election board compiles the count for the city or county. A few days later, the state canvassing authority certifies the winner.

Steps in Voting News media and party workers conduct exit polls-asking voters leaving the polls how they voted. Specialists use the results to predict winners early. Television networks may announce winners before voters in Western time zones have voted. Critics charge that early calls may persuade many Westerners not to vote.

Why Your Vote Matters Sources of information about candidates and issues include newspapers, TV, radio, newsmagazines, and the Internet. Others include literature distributed by political parties, the League of Women Voters, and interest groups. All people who are eligible to vote are called the electorate. Each vote counts.

Why Your Vote Matters Some people don’t vote because they think no candidates represent their interest or think their vote will not matter. Another reason why people don’t vote is apathy, or lack of interest. Citizens who vote share common characteristics. They generally have positive attitudes toward government and citizenship.

Why Your Vote Matters Regular voters tend to be more educated, be middle-aged, and have higher incomes. Voting gives citizens a chance to choose their government leaders. If they are dissatisfied with past performances, they can elect new leaders. By voting they can also express their opinions on public issues.

Types of Elections Besides primary elections, there are three types of elections in the United States: general elections, elections on issues, and special elections. After primary races narrow the field, voters choose candidates in a general election that occurs on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Types of Elections All seats in the House and about one-third of the seats in the Senate are at stake in general elections every even-numbered year. Presidents are elected every four years. In all except presidential races, the candidate with the majority of the popular vote wins. If the count is very close, the loser may demand a recount.

Types of Elections If neither candidate for president wins a majority of electoral votes, the House elects the president. Citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments through an initiative. If enough voters sign a petition, the proposed law, or proposition, is put on the ballot at the next general election.

Types of Elections Citizens may petition to have a state or local law referred, or sent back, to the voters as a referendum on the ballot. The voters can then approve or reject the law. A runoff is a special election held to determine a winner when none of the candidates wins a majority in the general election. A recall is a special election in which citizens can vote to remove an official from office.