1. Voting and Elections

2. Voting Qualifications
In order to vote in U.S. elections you must be
18 years old
Resident of the state you’re voting in
Citizen of the U.S.
Registered to vote

3. Who Votes? People eligible to vote are called the electorate
People’s voting rights will be denied if
They are inmates in mental hospitals
They have been convicted of a felony
They do not meet the residency requirements in their state

4. Why Should I Vote?
The right to vote is considered to be our greatest freedom
People should exercise their right to vote because it allows citizens to
Choose their govt. leaders
Elect new leaders if dissatisfied with performance of current leaders
Express their opinions on public issues

5. Where Do I Vote? Precincts
Each address is assigned to a specific precinct number
Each precinct has specific locations where its residents go to vote (polling stations)
Can find precinct number here: (if registered)

6. Gwinnett County Precinct Map

7. Sample Voter Info Card

8. How Do I Vote?
Polling stations open as early as 5AM and close as late as 8 or 9 PM (GA 7am-7pm)
Each voting precinct decides the method of voting to use:
Mechanical Machine - Levers
Electronic Voting – Touch Screen / Optical Scan
Paper Ballot – Paper/Punch Card

9. Voting Methods

10. Voting Methods
Electronic Voting
Opti-Scan Voting Machine

11. Voting Methods
Touch Screen Voting

12. Voting Methods
Mechanical Machine

13. Voting Methods Paper Ballot Datavote Basic Paper
Punch Cards (holes called CHADS)

14. 2000 Election Controversy

15. 2000 Election Controversy
Palm Beach County

16. Voting Methods

17. When Do I Vote? General Election Day
1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in Nov.
Could be voting for
President of the U.S.
Governor
Senators
Representatives
State Legislators
Any state, federal, or local officials
Mid-term Elections (Same Day as Above)
Elections in which members of Congress and some Governors are being elected, but not the President

18. Voting Types Straight Ticket Voting
Voting for all candidates in one party
Some states make it easy by having a column on ballot for each party

19. Voting Types SEE HANDOUT FOR EXAMPLE Split Ticket Voting
Voting for candidates of different political parties for different offices
SEE HANDOUT FOR
EXAMPLE

20. Voting Types Write In Voting
Voters can write in names of candidates they wish to vote for, whose names do not appear on the ballot
Candidate has to be an officially endorsed candidate for vote to count

21. Voting Types Absentee Voting
Voters who cannot get to the polls on Election Day can use an absentee ballot
Can be requested from the local election board as early as 180 days before Election Day
Ballots opened and counted in your precinct on Election Day

22. Voting Types Advance Voting
Allows any registered voter to cast a ballot in person at the county voter registration office during normal business hours on the Monday through Friday of the week prior to an election.

23. Counting the Votes Election workers count votes after polls close
Ballots then taken to election board and they count votes again
News media and party workers try to predict winners as soon as possible through exit polls
also used to deter voter fraud

24. Pol.Parties/Voting Quiz
Answer the following questions on your own paper:
What is the main goal of the Republican and Democratic parties?
What is the second step in getting a party candidate elected to office?
What is the term used to describe the act of a newly elected party member giving loyal party supporters jobs or favors?
List the 4 qualifications to vote in the U.S.
What is the term used to describe anyone who is eligible to vote in U.S. elections?
What is the term used to describe the voting districts in which we have to vote?
According to the map we looked at in class, why do 30% of African American males in Florida not vote?