1. Elections
&
Voting
Chapter 17

2. Electing the President
Held every four years, but campaigning begins much earlier
Winner MUST receive a majority of votes in the Electoral College
Number of votes in the Electoral College = number of Senators and Representatives in Congress
Winner-takes-all system

3. 2016 Electoral College Map

4. Problems  Winner of the popular vote may not win the presidency
Winner-takes-all system
Vote distribution amongst the states
Electors are not required to vote in accordance with the popular vote

5. Problems  3. The House of Reps may have to decide the election
Each state gets only 1 vote
No majority = No vote
3rd party problems

6. Solutions!  District Plan Proportional Plan Pure Popular Vote
“Bonus” Plan
Don’t Change

7. Campaign Organization
Campaign Strategy
Must capture “key” states
Tone of the campaign
Which issues are stressed
Campaign Organization
Campaign manager: responsible for overall strategy and planning
Campaign must be organized from the national level  local level

8. Television Image: mental picture voters have of a candidate
Try to appear “presidential”
TV = most important communication tool
Commercials
News programs
Debates
Internet

9. Campaigning for office is extremely expensive Questionable practices
Amount spent
Fundraising methods

10. Rules Prior to the 1970s = private donations
Unfair advantage to the wealthy
Special favors?

11. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Public funding of presidential elections
Public disclosure of how much money is spent
Businesses & Labor Unions can’t donate money
Individuals limited to $1, (now $2,600)
Limitations on campaign spending?

12. Political Action Committees
Def: An organization designed to support political candidates with campaign contributions
Individuals can contribute up to $5,000.00
Major spending increases
with every election
Influence of Super PACs

13. Soft Money
Unlimited amounts of money raised for general purposes, not designated to particular candidates
No accounting for how it was spent
Businesses = Republican Party
Labor Unions = Democratic Party

14. Federal Funding
Accepting federal funding places a limit on how much you can spend
3rd parties qualify if they received 5% or more of the popular vote in the previous presidential election
Reform Party—1996

15. Disclosure
All contributions over $ must be recorded and reported to the Federal Election Commission
Administers federal election laws
FEC’s records are open to the public

16. Voting Suffrage: The right to vote Foundation of American democracy
Right v. Privilege
Regulations and restrictions apply

17. Early Limitations
Colonial times = 5-6% of the adult population eligible to vote
Gender and racial restrictions
Property requirements
Religious restrictions
Mid-1800s = universal white adult male suffrage

18. Women’s Suffrage Fight began in colonial times
1914—women had the right to vote in 11 states, all west of the Mississippi River
19th Amendment = universal women’s suffrage

19. African-American Suffrage
Post Civil War
15th Amendment
Cannot deny right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude
First time the national government set rules for voting

20. Grandfather Clause Literacy Test
Only voters whose grandfathers had voted before 1867 can vote without paying a poll tax or passing a literacy test
1915 = unconstitutional
Literacy Test
Racial differences

21. Poll Tax Money a citizen had to pay before he or she could vote
Discriminated against the poor of all races
1964—24Th Amendment
1966 —Supreme Court decision

22. Voting Rights Acts Civil Rights movement Voting Rights Act of 1965
Voter registration can be done by the federal government
Eliminated unfair voting districts
Abolished literacy requirements
Foreign languages

23. 26th Amendment Lowered the voting age to 18
Influence of the Vietnam War
10 million citizens gained the right to vote

24. Voter Qualifications 1. Citizenship 2. Age 3. Registration
Can’t set minimum age for voting above 18
3. Registration
Voter identification intended to prevent fraud
4. Residence
Must be a legal resident in which you cast your ballot

25. Denied Voters
People in mental institutions or who have been found to be mentally incompetent (all)
People convicted of Felonies (most)
3. People dishonorably discharged from the military (few)

26. Influences on
Voters

27. Personal Background
Age, Education, Religion, Racial/Ethnic background, Economic Situation, Etc.
Cross-pressured voter
One who is caught between conflicting elements in their own life

28. Party Loyalty Strong v. Weak party voters Independents
Straight-party ticket = will only vote for candidates in their party
Independents
Increased over the years
Influenced by issues and candidate image

29. Issues Today’s voters = better educated and informedTV
Issues directly impact many people’s lives

30. Image Personal qualities candidates are thought to have
Voter perception
Trustworthiness
Intellect
Leadership

31. Propaganda
Def: Using ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion
NOT objective!!!

32. Voters
Higher income, higher education and middle-aged people are more likely to vote regularly
Many still do NOT vote!
Requirements:
Citizenship - Age
Registration - Residence

33. Turnout
Voter turnout has fallen from 62% to 50% in presidential elections
Suggestions:
Move voting day from Tuesday to Sunday
Allow registration to occur ON Election Day
National registration

34. What is Mudslinging?
Negative ads and false accusations against an opponent in order to discredit them.