1. Elections and Voting

2. Elections
Types:
Primary: Where we select the party’s candidates
General: Where we select which party gets the job
Policy(only at the state level): Where we decide specific issues (Laws)
Federal (National) elections are held every even numbered year
1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November
Presidential elections held every 4 years

3. Electoral College
When you vote for President you are not actually voting for the candidate but for an elector who will cast a vote for president
Every state is given a number of electors (Reps + Senators)
Total of 538 (3 for DC)
270 Needed to win (simple Majority)

4. Campaigns Campaign: The process by which candidates try to get elected
Campaign manager: The person in charge of the overall strategy to get a candidate elected
Campaign strategy: The game plan for getting a candidate elected
For Presidential candidates state and local party officials coordinates the campaign at the local level

5. Financing Campaigns Paying for a campaign is EXPENSIVE
Raising money for a campaign is regulated by the federal government
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
FECA: Requires candidates disclose (tell)their spending, provides public money for their campaign, prohibits labor unions and businesses from making direct contributions, and limits how much individuals and groups can contribute
If a candidate uses public funds they must agree to a spending limit

6. Expanding Voting Rights
In 1800 only white, male, poperty owners over the age of 21 could vote
The property restriction was dropped state by state through the early 1800’s
th amendment gives African American males the right to vote
th Amendment gives women the right to vote
th Amendment gives 18 yr olds the right to vote

7. African American Suffrage
15th Amendment grants African Americans the right to vote but
Many states try to disenfranchise (keep them from voting) them
Grandfather Clause-You can only vote if your grandfather voted
Used by southern states to keep former slaves and other African Americans from voting
Literacy Tests- Reading tests you must pass to vote
Poll Tax-Must pay a tax to vote(24th Amendment makes these illegal)
Voting Rights Act of 1965 does away with other barriers to voting and gives the Federal government power to enforce

8. Influences on Voters Voters Background Political Party Loyalty Issues
Image
Propaganda

9. Voter Background Age-The older you are the more likely you are to vote
Education-The more educated you are the more likely you are to vote
Race-Until the 2008 election whites were more likely to vote than other groups
Religion-Certain religions vote for certain parties
HOW YOUR PARENTS VOTED- you are more likely to vote like your parents. Single biggest predictor of how you will vote

10. Party Loyalty
Most people pick a party that shares the same ideas on most political issues
Economics, war, education, abortion, etc
People who share most of a party’s beliefs will be more loyal
The more loyal you are to the party the more likely that you will vote a Straight Party Ticket
Voting for every democrat/republican on the ballot
This gives voters some ease in voting knowing how each candidate will likely behave if they take office

11. Issues What are the issues? How do you stand on the issues?
How does your candidate stand on the issues?
How likely is your candidate likely to get elected?

12. Image How well is the candidate perceived (Seen)? Major image factors:
Trustworthiness/Integrity
Reliability
Competence(Their ability to handle the job, or their knowledge of how to handle the job

14. Propaganda Uses ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion
Tries to evoke your emotions
Heavy on emotion, light on facts