The Voting Process North Carolina

Why Vote? It is fundamental to democracy It links the people and the government It gives the government credibility in the eyes of the people

History of Voting 1776- Property owners 15th Amendment: Black men 19th Amendment: Women 26th Amendment: 18-21 year olds Civil Rights Act (1964): Every Citizen in America

Elections Primary Elections: determine who will be the candidates General Election: Determines the winner from the primaries. Runoff Elections: determines winner in cases of ties (in the case of the President the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES elects the president. Recall Elections: recall a leader by signing a petition Special Election

Voting on Issues Initiative: Citizens propose new laws or state constitutional amendments Proposition: the law being introduced Referendum: vote on the proposition on election day

Where can I register to Vote? One stop voting sites Select government agencies Work First Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Food Stamps Medicaid Services for the Blind Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services Vocational Rehabilitation North Carolina Protection and Advocacy Agency Employment Security Commission

…Continue Motor Voter Act: Register at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Mail in Voter Registration Forms Libraries and Public High Schools Mobile Registration drives during election years College Campuses Schools Stores Currently There are 8,049,313 people in NC There are 6,083,211 registered voters in NC

Qualifications to Register to Vote A person must sign a voter declaration attesting that: I am a U.S. citizen I will have been a resident of North Carolina and this county for 30 days before the election 18 years old Registered Voter

Who cannot vote? Felons Incarcerated People Resident aliens The legally incompetent

Voting Process Go to the Polling Place in your precinct Verbally state your name and verify address Go into poll Cast Ballot Exit Polls: people ask who you voted for to try and predict who won before the official results are released. You do not have to tell them You could lie about it

Different Ballots Straight Ticket: hit one button Split Ticket: Vote for every candidate in your party Strict Reps. and Dems. Vote this way Split Ticket: Vote for each candidate individually and may vote for some Dems. and some Reps. All Citizens must physically vote for the President

Butterfly Ballot

Punch Card Butterfly Ballot

Different Forms of Ballots Most counties are moving toward electronic ballots They are more reliable and easier to read

VOTER APATHY The biggest problem with democracy is that most citizens do not vote Only 60% of registered voters voted in the 2004 Presidential Election Local elections and primaries have the lowest turnout

Voter Apathy- Causes Why? Some think others are more qualified to make the decisions Some just don’t care Some are too busy at work to make it to the polls (Alleviated by Absentee ballots) Some do not like their choices

Voter Knowledge Before an election Research the candidates What is their platform? What can they do for you and your family, life, career Look at voting record of incumbents Incumbents have held office before and should have voted on some legislation

Voter Knowledge Where to get your information Platform Website Pamphlets and ads Debates: watch on TV or attend debate

What Protections do Voters have? YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to vote without showing your voter registration card to poll workers. On Election Day, each polling place opens at 6:30 A.M. and closes at 7:30 P.M. If you are in line or in the process of voting when the polls close at 7:30, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to vote. If you make a mistake or “spoil” your ballot and have not cast the ballot, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to receive up to three replacement ballots.

What Protections do Voters have? If you cannot read or write, or you are blind or otherwise disabled, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to request special assistance from a person of your choice who is not your employer or union officer to help you vote. If you are disabled and cannot enter the polling place, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to vote in the immediate proximity of the polling place, including in the vehicle that brought you to the polls.

NC State Board of Elections