1. Voting
Ch. 10

2. Warm up 2. What do you learn about by reading a party platform?
1. What kind of political party system do many democracies have?
2. What do you learn about by reading a party platform?
3. What is a political parties stance on a single issue called?
4. What is the main purpose of a political party?
5. What country is governed by a one party system 6. What can 3rd parties be based on?
7. What is an alliance with another political party called?
8. What is the purpose of the ‘watchdog’ role?

3. Eligibility to Vote 18 years old
Resident of the state for a specific time
Citizen of the U.S.
No felonies
Once registered, a person is assigned to a district
You can only vote once!

4. Voting Process Gather information
Newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, and internet
Websites of candidates & political parties
Political parties
Go to polling place & receive a ballot
Cast your ballot – fill out your choices
Wait for returns – reporting of election results
Absentee Ballot – a way to vote if you will be unable to vote on election day
Exit Poll – way of predicting the winner before all of the votes are counted by asking people as they leave who they voted for

5. Voting Process

6. North Carolina Sample Ballot

7. Not Voting Electorate – people eligible to vote
Apathy – lack of interest. #1 reason why people don’t vote
Following can’t vote
Felons
Those in mental hospitals
People who do not meet state requirements
Registration is not a problem – states allow people to register when they renew their driver’s license.
Presidential elections – 50% of electorate vote
Elections without Presidential candidates – between 7% and 20% vote

8. The right to vote belongs to every U. S citizen
The right to vote belongs to every U.S citizen. In your opinion, what do citizens forfeit if they do not exercise their right to vote?

9. Political Cartoon Voter apathy is a big issue in the U.S.
I want you to draw a political cartoon that depicts a reason or several reasons people give for not voting.

10. Special Elections
Initiative – a way citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments. a petition is signed with enough signatures from qualified voters, to put an issue on the ballot
Proposition – (the proposed law). It is put on the ballot at the next general election
Referendum – a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law. people can gather signatures to review a law passed by the state legislatures and have it sent back to the voters for their approval at the next general election
Usually with very controversial issues
Recall – special election where voters can vote an official out of office before their term is up

11. Campaigning Creation of a positive image for a candidate 2 types
Television is the most common means of campaigning
2 types
Mass Campaigning – TV, mail – less time consuming but more expensive
Grassroots – small level – Canvassing or making phone calls – cheap but time consuming – the voters get to personally know the candidate and the candidate gets to know the voters
Incumbents – win 80% of the time
Name recognition
Franking privilege
Endorsements – a famous or popular person supports a candidate

12. Financing Campaigns
The Federal Election & Campaign Finance Act of 1971
Established rules for campaign finance
Public disclosure of spending
Established federal funding of presidential elections
Limits how much individuals & groups could spend
Created the FEC (Federal Election Committee)

13. Private Funding Soft Money Donations
Donations given to political parties & not designated for a particular candidate
Most goes to TV ads for the parties’ candidates
Elaborate dinners with individual donations
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Organized by special interest groups
Funds candidates who favor their position on issues
Hard money vs. Soft money
Hard money – directly to a candidate
Soft money – general purpose

14. Public Funding Presidential Election Campaign Fund
Taxpayers check a box on their federal income tax returns to designate $3 of their taxes to the fund
Candidates can get the money for primary elections if they have raised $100,000 on their own
Barack Obama did not take any public money for the 2008 Presidential Election

15. How do you think the internet has affected campaigns, or might affect future campaigns?