Voting and Elections Chapter 11

Who Can Vote? Lesson 1 Essential Questions: What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens? It Matters Because: The right to vote spread slowly to more and more people.

Guiding Question: What are the requirements to vote? Throughout history most people did not choose their rulers People had powerful rulers such as kings and queens In the United States Citizens have the right to vote for their leaders One of the most treasured rights

Expanding Suffrage The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal” This principle or belief has not always been achieved Suffrage- the right to vote The right to vote was limited to only white, male landowners Excluded were : White males who did not own property All women , African Americans, Native Americans, people under 21 years of age Alice Paul (1885-1977)-suffragist

Voting Requirements Today Many barriers to voting have been eliminated In most states some people are not eligible, or qualified to vote People who committed serious crimes and are still imprisoned People who suffer certain mental illness Non-citizens Abraham Lincoln said we have: “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people”

Extending The Right To Vote 1870 Fifteenth Amendment Prohibits denying a person’s right to vote on the Basis of race 1960 Civil Rights Act of 1960 Introduces penalties against anybody who obstructs an individual’s voting rights 1929 Nineteenth Amendment Guarantees women the right to vote 1961 Twenty-third Amendment Residents of District of Columbia give the right to vote 1924 Congressional Act All native Americans give citizenship 1964 Twenty-fourth Amendment Outlaws poll tax in national elections Smith v. Allwright Supreme Court rules prohibiting African Americans from voting in primary elections is unconstitutional 1965 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Literacy tests prohibited; Federal voter registrars authorized in seven southern states 1957 Civil Rights Act of 1957 Justice Department can sue to protect voting rights in various states 1970 Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 Lowers the minimum voting age to 18 in federal elections

Extending The Right To Vote 1971 Twenty-sixth Amendment Minimum voting age reduces to 18 for all elections 1993 National Voter Registration Act Makes it easier to register to vote and to maintain registration 1975 Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1975 Bans literacy tests and mandates bilingual ballots in certain areas 2006 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 Prohibits use of tests or devices to deny the right to vote; requires certain jurisdictions to provide voting materials in multiple languages 1982 Voting Rights Act Amendment of 1982 Extends provisions of two previous voting rights act amendments 1992 Voting Rights Language Assistance Act Extends use of bilingual ballots and voting Assistance

Steps In the Voting Process Guiding Question: What steps must you follow to vote? Registering to Vote All states except for North Dakota require citizens to register before they can vote Register- to officially sign up to vote Most states require you to register at least 25 days before the election Some states allow you to register on Election Day

Registering to Vote You must fill out a form Name, address, age Political party preference Provide driver’s license, birth certificate, or other valid identification Proof of citizenship Some states allow you to register by mail You can download the form National Voter Registration Act Requires states to let people register when they are renewing a drivers license “Motor Voter” law

Preparing to Vote Once you are registered you can vote Your vote is important and can determine the outcome of the election Affects the lives of many people Be informed about the issues Does the candidate stand for the things I think are important? Is the candidate reliable and honest? Does the candidate have relevant past experience? Will the candidate be effective in offices? Does the candidate have a real chance of winning?

Casting Your Vote Many states allow early voting Citizens can vote prior to Election Day Some states allow early voting by mail Polling Place- the place you go vote on Election Day Set up in schools, community centers, fire stations, libraries and more Each precinct, or voting district, has one polling place When you arrive your present some form of identification You cast your vote in secret

Ballot Ballot-is a list of the candidates names that shows their political party and the office they are seeking Could be a card that you punch holes Could be a computer touch screen Could be absentee ballots Citizens who cannot get to polls vote absentee Military personnel, people who are traveling Voters request an absentee ballot

Why Your Vote Counts Guiding Question- Why is it important to vote? Every vote counts equally Reasons to vote Voting is a right and a responsibility Voting gives you a chance to choose your government leaders Voting allows you to express your feelings and opinions about current leaders Voting gives a voice in how your community, state and country is run Voting gives you positive attitudes about government and community

Understanding Voter Participation Voting is a right, responsibility and power Yet many Americans choose not to vote Voter Turnout- the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote If only 60 percent of eligible voters actually vote, turnout is 60 Turnout rate is usually below 50 percent Low turnout is mainly due to apathy Apathy- lack of interest To busy, moved and didn’t register, just not interested

Lesson 2 Elections and Campaigns Guiding Question- Why are there different types of elections in the American political system? People who hold elected office in the United States 435 Representatives 100 Senators President and Vice President 500,000 elected official in the United States Governors and state officials Elections are a large part of American life

Primary and General Elections The first step in the election process is the primary election. Usually held in the spring or summer Purpose of the primary election is to choose one candidate from each party Candidate is the person with the plurality of the votes (most votes) Some states require a majority

Elections Presidential – Every 4 years Senate – Every 6 six years One third of senate every 2 years House of Representatives – all members every 2 years If the election is too close a recount is demanded

Initiatives and Referendums People vote on issues Topics of public interest, matters of debate or dispute Issues can be put on the ballot so voters can approve or reject it. Two special processes give voters a direct voice in governing Initiative- is a process that lets voters propose new laws or amendments to state constitutions Need to gather enough signatures to place it on the ballot The proposed law is a proposition (prop) Referendum- asks voters to accept or reject a law passed by the legislature For example, changes to the constitution These changes often involve new taxes or tax increases

Special Elections Some states allow recall elections People vote on whether to remove an official from office Begins with people signing a petition An election takes place If there is a majority of votes, the official is removed from office Sometimes an official dies in office or steps down A special election might be held Election does not take place a regularly scheduled time

Presidential Elections Guiding Question- How are Presidents elected? Understanding the Electoral College Presidents are not directly elected by the people When voters cast their ballots they are actually electing special representatives called electors Electoral College- a group of people named by the state legislature to select the president and vice president

Electoral College Each state has as many electors as they have senators and representatives Florida has 27 representatives and 2 senators for a total of 29 electors Nationally there are 538 electors 100 Senators + 435 Representatives + 3 Representing District of Columbia = 538 Electors The candidate that wins the majority of electoral votes, wins the election (at least 270) Popular vote- the votes cast by individual voters, as apposed to electoral vote The purpose of popular vote is to choose the electors

The Electoral College Process TUESDAY AFTER FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER On Election Day, voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a particular presidential candidate MONDAY AFTER SECOND WEDNESDAY IN DECEMBER Winning electors in each state meet in their state capitals to cast their votes for president and vice president. A statement of the vote is sent to Washington D.C. JANUARY 6 Congress counts electoral votes. A majority of electoral votes is needed to win (270 out of 538) JANUARY 20 The candidate receiving majority of electoral votes is sworn in as president of the United States

Criticisms of the Electoral College Winner-take-all system- the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state receives all the state’s electoral votes It’s possible to nationally win the popular vote and still lose the electoral votes It’s extremely difficult for third party candidates to be represented in the electoral college The Constitutions set up the Electoral College It is a compromise, electors choose the president, but the popular vote chooses the electors In order to change the system, the Constitution has to be amended

Running for Office Needs to meet requirements Natural-born citizen At least 35 years old Lived in the United States at least 14 years Set up exploratory committee Find out how much support the candidate is likely to get Several people from each party compete in primaries Delegates are chosen Delegates at the conventions choose the party candidate

Campaigning After the convention the candidate hits the campaign trail Speeches, interviews, community events, debates, answer voters questions Canvas- to seek votes from voters Door-to-door, telephone, Internet, television, radio, signs, buttons, etc… Endorsements- public support from people and groups

Campaign Finance Local campaigns cost thousands of dollars State campaigns cost hundreds of thousands of dollars Presidential campaigns cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Most of the money comes from donations Individuals, corporations, unions, private groups Political Action Committees (PACs) An organization set up by interest groups to collect and direct money to candidates and their campaigns Many Americans believe there is too much money in campaigns. Candidates will want to help the biggest donors