1. Elections UNIT III – Effective Citizenship and Participation

2. The Board of Elections is in charge of overseeing elections to make sure they are fair The Board of Elections is in charge of overseeing elections to make sure they are fair This is done on a local, county level This is done on a local, county level Every local government will run elections in their own way Every local government will run elections in their own way Board of Elections

3. Types of Elections Primary Election: election in which voters choose a candidate to run in a general election Primary Election: election in which voters choose a candidate to run in a general election –Think Democrat v. Democrat and Republican v. Republican –Closed primary: only members of party vote for candidate –Open primary: anyone can vote, regardless of party affiliation

4. General Election: voters choose candidates for various offices General Election: voters choose candidates for various offices Think Republican v. Democrat for the win Think Republican v. Democrat for the win –Always one of the first Tuesdays in November –Except for the presidential election, the candidate with the most votes always wins

5. Special Elections: Special Elections: –Runoff Elections When none of the candidates for a particular office clearly winsWhen none of the candidates for a particular office clearly wins –Recall Elections Remove a public official from office; always started with petitions (Governor Swarzenegger)Remove a public official from office; always started with petitions (Governor Swarzenegger)

6. What are you voting for? Federal Level – President/VP, Congress (Senate/House) Federal Level – President/VP, Congress (Senate/House) State Level – Governor, Lt. Governor, General Assembly (NC legislative branch), Council of State (NC department heads), Judges State Level – Governor, Lt. Governor, General Assembly (NC legislative branch), Council of State (NC department heads), Judges Local Level – Mayor, city council, sheriff Local Level – Mayor, city council, sheriff Some offices are partisan (connected to a political party) and some are nonpartisan (not connected to a political party) Some offices are partisan (connected to a political party) and some are nonpartisan (not connected to a political party)

7. Voting on Issues in Elections Citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments through an initiative Citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments through an initiative Citizens who want a new law gather signatures of qualified voters Citizens who want a new law gather signatures of qualified voters If enough people sign the petition, the proposed law, or proposition, is put on the ballot If enough people sign the petition, the proposed law, or proposition, is put on the ballot Allowing citizens to vote for these propositions is called referendum Allowing citizens to vote for these propositions is called referendum