1. Civics and Economics 8 Mr. Byvik
VOTING and ELECTIONS
Civics and Economics 8
Mr. Byvik

2. What are common “voting” terms?
1. Polling place 2. Precinct 3. Ballot 4. Returns 5. Exit poll 6. Electorate 7. Apathy 8. Absentee ballot
A. List of candidates used to cast vote B. Lack of interest (in voting) C. Location where voting occurs D. Same as a voting district E. Americans who are eligible to vote F. Used when one can’t be home to vote G. Election results H. Questions sometimes asked by news media and/or political party workers when one leaves the polls

3. Who is qualified to register to vote?
1. Citizen of United States
2. Legal resident of a state
3.18 years of age or
older
In the presidential election of 2008,
71.0% of the U.S. population registered
to vote, and
89.6 % of registered voters actually voted.
Information from U.S. Census Bureau

4. Who registers and votes the most?
Group
educated
wealthy
older

5. When must you register to vote?
In Virginia, voter registration must be completed at least
22 days before an election.

6. How do you register to vote?
1. By mail
2. Go to any Division of
Motor Vehicles office
3. Go to the Registrar’s office in your county.
When you register to vote, you may choose to register as a member of a political party, but this is not required. (This allows you to vote in primaries.)
When you register to vote, you are assigned to an election district which has a designated place for you to go to cast your ballot when you vote.

7. What are the steps in voting?
Register before election.
Go to your district’s polling place to vote.
Sign in at polling place with identification.
Vote by casting your ballot.

8. What are the types of elections?
Primary
1. Held by political parties for their registered party members to vote to select one candidate from within their party to run for office.
2. Serve to select the political party’s candidate for a general election
General
1. All registered voters vote to select candidates for presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, state legislature, mayoral, etc. offices.
2. Each candidate on a general election ballot represent s a political party.
Referendum
A special election where an issue is put on the ballot to let the voters decide what should be done.
Recall
A special election held to remove a public official from office

9. What are the steps of Presidential elections?
Nomination
Primaries of political party nominate a candidate to represent their party.
National convention of political party nominates one candidate from primaries.
Campaign
Campaigning begins with acceptance of nomination at national convention.
Involves speeches, debates, appearances, news conferences, advertising, etc
Electoral
College
General election held every 4 years in November for popular (people’s) vote
Electors of Electoral College vote in December after direct popular election.

10. How does the Electoral College work?
1. Every state has a group of electors who are determined by popular election voters.
2. Each state has 1 elector for each of its senators and 1 elector for each of its Congressional representatives.
3. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of that state’s electoral votes (the “winner-takes-all system”).
4. The total number of electoral votes is 538.
5. The candidate who receives 270 electoral college votes wins the presidential
election.
Important question: Who or what really elects the president and
the vice-president of our country?

11. How many electors are there?

12. Is it important for an American to vote?
yes no
Reasons
Reasons
NEVER
Class Count: ______ YES Class Count: ________ NO

13. How are campaigns financed?
Canvassing for funds
Endorsements
Candidate’s own money
Political Action Committees
Special interest groups
Fundraising events
Some government tax money

14. How does the mass media affect elections?
The mass media (both print and electronic forms) affects the
public agenda,
country’s public policy,
nomination of candidates,
outcome of elections,
actions of elected officials,
impact of watchdogs , and
national security.
Discuss examples of how the mass media affects each of the seven factors above.

15. Propaganda What is “propaganda”?
Propaganda is the deliberate spreading of true or false information, ideas, or rumors to help or harm a person (candidate) or group.

16. 7 Propaganda Techniques
Bandwagon: Candidate suggests that so many others are voting for him or her that you should, too.
Name Calling: Candidate uses disrespectful insults, accusations, intimidation, lies, unethical conduct to demean opponent.
Plain Folks: The candidate tries to blend in with ordinary people.
Glittering
Generalities: Candidate equates himself or herself with ideals such “democracy,” “patriotic,” and “honor” to win votes.
Endorsements: Candidate has a popular or famous person’s support.
Transfer: Candidate equates opponent with unpopular or infamous
person so that no one will vote for opponent.
Card Stacking: Candidate publicizes accomplishments, but leaves out
personal flaws and mistakes made.