Voting and Elections
Voting Qualifications In order to vote in U.S. elections you must be 18 years old Resident of the state you’re voting in Citizen of the U.S. Registered to vote http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/voter_registration/vra_2003_update.pdf
Who Votes? People eligible to vote are called the electorate People’s voting rights will be denied if They are inmates in mental hospitals They have been convicted of a felony They do not meet the residency requirements in their state
Why Should I Vote? The right to vote is considered to be our greatest freedom People should exercise their right to vote because it allows citizens to Choose their govt. leaders Elect new leaders if dissatisfied with performance of current leaders Express their opinions on public issues
Where Do I Vote? Precincts Each address is assigned to a specific precinct number Each precinct has specific locations where its residents go to vote (polling stations) Can find precinct number here: (if registered) http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/
Gwinnett County Precinct Map
Sample Voter Info Card
How Do I Vote? Polling stations open as early as 5AM and close as late as 8 or 9 PM (GA 7am-7pm) Each voting precinct decides the method of voting to use: Mechanical Machine - Levers Electronic Voting – Touch Screen / Optical Scan Paper Ballot – Paper/Punch Card
Voting Methods
Voting Methods Electronic Voting Opti-Scan Voting Machine
Voting Methods Touch Screen Voting
Voting Methods Mechanical Machine
Voting Methods Paper Ballot Datavote Basic Paper Punch Cards (holes called CHADS)
2000 Election Controversy
2000 Election Controversy Palm Beach County
Voting Methods
When Do I Vote? General Election Day 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in Nov. Could be voting for President of the U.S. Governor Senators Representatives State Legislators Any state, federal, or local officials Mid-term Elections (Same Day as Above) Elections in which members of Congress and some Governors are being elected, but not the President
Voting Types Straight Ticket Voting Voting for all candidates in one party Some states make it easy by having a column on ballot for each party
Voting Types SEE HANDOUT FOR EXAMPLE Split Ticket Voting Voting for candidates of different political parties for different offices SEE HANDOUT FOR EXAMPLE
Voting Types Write In Voting Voters can write in names of candidates they wish to vote for, whose names do not appear on the ballot Candidate has to be an officially endorsed candidate for vote to count
Voting Types Absentee Voting Voters who cannot get to the polls on Election Day can use an absentee ballot Can be requested from the local election board as early as 180 days before Election Day Ballots opened and counted in your precinct on Election Day
Voting Types Advance Voting Allows any registered voter to cast a ballot in person at the county voter registration office during normal business hours on the Monday through Friday of the week prior to an election.
Counting the Votes Election workers count votes after polls close Ballots then taken to election board and they count votes again News media and party workers try to predict winners as soon as possible through exit polls also used to deter voter fraud
Pol.Parties/Voting Quiz Answer the following questions on your own paper: What is the main goal of the Republican and Democratic parties? What is the second step in getting a party candidate elected to office? What is the term used to describe the act of a newly elected party member giving loyal party supporters jobs or favors? List the 4 qualifications to vote in the U.S. What is the term used to describe anyone who is eligible to vote in U.S. elections? What is the term used to describe the voting districts in which we have to vote? According to the map we looked at in class, why do 30% of African American males in Florida not vote?